Korla Licheng Airport

Korla Licheng Airport
库尔勒梨城机场
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesKorla, Xinjiang, China
Location2
Opened2007 (2007)
Elevation AMSL3,041 ft / 927 m
Coordinates41°36′59″N 86°8′35″E / 41.61639°N 86.14306°E / 41.61639; 86.14306
Map
KRL
Location of airport in Xinjiang
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,780 9,121 Concrete
Statistics (2025 [1])
Passengers2,959,190
Aircraft movements27,439
Cargo (metric tons)9,275.7
Source: CAAC[2] Sources:[3][4]
Korla Licheng Airport
Simplified Chinese库尔勒梨城机场
Traditional Chinese庫爾勒梨城機場
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinKù'ěrlè Líchéng Jīchǎng

Ku'erle (Korla) Licheng Airport (IATA: KRL, ICAO: ZWKL) is an airport serving Korla, a city in the autonomous region of Xinjiang in the People's Republic of China.[3] The airport is located on the Airport Expressway in Korla City, was initially built in 1967 as a military airport and opened to civil aviation operations in 1971. It is 17 kilometers from the city center and serves as a secondary aviation hub in Xinjiang. Until 2025, the airport will have two terminals with a total area of ​​25,925 square meters, 13 aircraft stands (5 of which are jet bridge stands), a 2,800-meter-long and 50-meter-wide runway, and can accommodate aircraft up to the B757-200 or similar. The airport serves 42 cities, covering seven major cities including Beijing and Chengdu.[5][6] In recent years, with the rapid development of civil aviation, during peak seasons, a shortage of aircraft stands has led to long waiting times for landing aircraft on taxiways, causing flight delays and compromising flight punctuality. The airport is currently undergoing improvement projects.[5][7]

History

Korla Licheng Airport traces its origins to a military airfield constructed in 1967.[8][6] The construction of the airport was completed in 1970 as a second‑class airfield of the PLA Air Force, with its station classified as Grade B. It began civil aviation service in 1971 and operated for decades as a joint military–civilian facility serving mainly regional routes to cities such as Urumqi and Kuqa. It currently hosts a fighter aviation regiment. In 1979, the airport began joint military–civil operations, establishing both a civil aviation station and a liaison station. Civil aviation mainly operated small aircraft such as the Il‑14 and the DHC‑6 Twin Otter, and successively opened scheduled routes from Korla to Urumqi, Kuqa, and Qiemo. Due to extremely rudimentary facilities and the fleet renewal of Xinjiang Airlines’ regional aircraft, civil flights were suspended in September 1998. In May 2003, civil aviation operations resumed, supporting ATR‑72 aircraft and a small number of Boeing 737 flights.[8][9]

In April 2004, Xinjiang Airport Group was established, and Korla Airport was reorganized under the group. The old Korla Airport ceased operations on November 5, 2007, and the new airport officially entered service on December 20 of the same year. In its 2014 annual work report, Xinjiang Airport Group designated Korla Airport as a “secondary hub within Xinjiang,” marking the beginning of a period of rapid development. In July 2012, Korla and Qiemo airports were merged for joint operation, and in September 2017, Korla, Qiemo, and Ruoqiang airports were further consolidated under unified management.[9]

The Korla Airport expansion and renovation project began on June 15, 2015. Designed to meet the projected 2025 targets of 2.6 million passengers, 13,000 tons of cargo and mail, and 28,600 aircraft movements, the project included the construction of a new 25,000‑square‑meter terminal building, seven additional aircraft stands, and five boarding bridges. In November 2017, the T2 terminal at Korla Airport was officially put into operation.[9]

Facilities

Terminals

The Korla Licheng Airport Terminal 1, which opened on December 20, 2007, has an area of ​​925 square meters[10][9]. The renovation project of Terminal 1 at the airport was completed in 2025. This project was part of a plan to enhance air transport capacity. New escalators and elevators were installed in Terminal 1, and a waiting area was added on the second floor.[6]

The T2 terminal of Korla Licheng Airport was put into use on November 11, 2017. It covers an area of ​​25,000 square meters.[9][11]

Runways

The airport resides at an elevation of 3,041 feet (927 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 04/22 which measures 2,780 by 45 metres (9,121 ft × 148 ft).[4]

Future expansions

Despite the airport having undergone numerous renovations and expansions, in 2025, the airport had only 13 aircraft stands, including 5 jet bridge stands. During peak seasons, the scarcity of aircraft stands led to long wait times for landing aircraft on taxiways, causing flight delays and compromising on-time performance. This hindered the airport's healthy development and prevented passengers from enjoying a comfortable flight experience. On March 27, 2025, the ground-breaking ceremony for the apron expansion project of Korla Licheng Airport was held. This expansion project, with a total investment of 83.68 million yuan, will construct 8 new Category C aircraft stands on the east side of the existing apron, adding over 60,000 square meters of apron area. Simultaneously, an 840-square-meter modern special vehicle garage, patrol roads, navigation lights, and other supporting facilities will be built. Upon completion, the project will significantly alleviate the shortage of aircraft stands and further enhance the airport's comprehensive support capabilities.[12][13]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air China Beijing–Capital, Chengdu–Tianfu, Hangzhou, Lanzhou, Wuhan
Beijing Capital Airlines Chengdu–Tianfu,[14] Hangzhou,[14] Zhengzhou[14]
China Eastern Airlines Beijing–Daxing,[15] Shanghai–Pudong[14]
China Express Airlines Aksu, Aral,[16] Bole, Chongqing,[17] Hami, Hotan,[18] Jiayuguan,[19] Karamay, Kashgar, Qiemo, Ruoqiang, Shache, Shihezi, Tacheng,[16] Tumxuk,[20] Yining, Yutian
China Southern Airlines Beijing–Daxing, Chengdu–Tianfu,[14] Hotan,[14] Kashgar,[21] Ürümqi, Yining[22]
Chongqing Airlines Chongqing[23]
Hebei Airlines Shijiazhuang[24]
Jiangxi Air Zhengzhou
Loong Air[25] Hangzhou, Xi'an, Zhengzhou
Lucky Air Zhengzhou[26]
Qingdao Airlines Chengdu–Tianfu[27]
Shandong Airlines Jinan,[28] Qingdao, Xi'an,[28] Zhengzhou
Sichuan Airlines Chengdu–Tianfu[29]
Spring Airlines Lanzhou
Tianjin Airlines Ruoqiang,[30] Ürümqi,[30] Xi'an
West Air Chongqing, Zhengzhou

See also

References

  1. ^ 中国民航局 (2026-02-26). "2025年全国民用运输机场生产统计公报". 中国民航局. Retrieved 2026-03-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "2015年民航机场吞吐量排名". www.caac.gov.cn.
  3. ^ a b Airport information for Korla, Xinjiang, China (KRL / ZWKL) at Great Circle Mapper.
  4. ^ a b Airports in China Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine at AirfieldMaps.co.uk
  5. ^ a b 腾讯网 (2025-02-22). "好消息！新疆这一机场将有新变化！附乌鲁木齐国际机场免费过夜指南！_腾讯新闻". news.qq.com (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  6. ^ a b c "预计5月底投入使用！库尔勒机场保障能力提升项目稳步推进". www.xjkel.gov.cn. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
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  9. ^ a b c d e "库尔勒（且末、若羌）机场的改革开放40年-中国民航网". caacnews.com.cn. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
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  11. ^ "七秩三网铺坦途 巴州枢纽贯神州_今日巴州_巴音郭楞蒙古自治州人民政府". www.xjbz.gov.cn. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  12. ^ "新疆机场集团库尔勒梨城机场站坪扩建工程正式开工-中国民航网". caacnews.com.cn. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  13. ^ "新疆迎来一大批机场改扩建！涉及库尔勒梨城机场". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "航班换季即将开启 | 库尔勒管理分公司新增、加密、恢复多条航线". Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  15. ^ "China Eastern / Etihad Expands Codeshare Network From Sep 2025". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  16. ^ a b "寻龙五千年，华夏航空2024夏秋航季全新启航". 微信公众平台. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  17. ^ "图片 华夏航空4月在疆新开8条航线_民航资源网".
  18. ^ "【助力暑运】和田昆冈机场恢复多条航线". Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  19. ^ "更新啦！新增这么多航线。嘉峪关酒泉机场航班大巴时刻表". Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  20. ^ "图片 华夏航空首航"库尔勒—图木舒克—喀什"航线_民航资源网".
  21. ^ "南航冬航季起航丨库尔勒与您相约蓝天之旅！". Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  22. ^ "‌3月30日，新疆机场集团伊宁、博乐、那拉提、昭苏机场将迎来航班换季". Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  23. ^ "【换季抢先看】收好这份换季航线表，自在出行不用愁". Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "河北航空新开直飞库尔勒航线". 10 July 2019.
  25. ^ "长龙航空2024夏航季航线&产品惊喜发布！". Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  26. ^ "新航季新出发 | 夏航季温暖来临 百条航线可选 去浪趁现在". Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  27. ^ "青岛航空冬春航季将通达50余个国内外航点". Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  28. ^ a b "2024年夏航季来了，从济南机场出发"泉心"起航". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  29. ^ "2023年新航季川航最新航线出炉，附国际/地区航线新消息". Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  30. ^ a b "天津航空夏秋航季超前放送，换季航线，国际复航，更多精彩带您畅享新旅程". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  • Accident history for KRL at Aviation Safety Network
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