Garze Kangding Airport 甘孜康定机场 | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Sichuan Airport Group | ||||||||||
| Location | Kangding,Sichuan | ||||||||||
| Opened | 26 April 2009; 16 years ago (2009-04-26) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 4,280 m / 14,042 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 30°09′27″N101°44′05″E / 30.15750°N 101.73472°E /30.15750; 101.73472 | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  KGT Location of airport in Sichuan | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2021) | |||||||||||
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| Sources:[1] | |||||||||||
| Garze Kangding Airport | |||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 甘孜康定机场 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 甘孜康定機場 | ||||||
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Ganzi Kangding Airport (IATA:KGT,ICAO:ZUKD) is an airport servingKangding, the capital ofGarzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in westernSichuan Province, China. It is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of the city center. Construction of the airport began in September 2006 and the airport started operation on April 26, 2009.[2]
Situated at 4,280 m (14,042 ft) above sea level, Kangding Airport is thefourth highest airport in the world behindDaocheng Yading Airport,Qamdo Bamda Airport, andShigatse Tingri Airport, and just higher thanNgari Gunsa Airport (elevation 4,274 m (14,022 ft)).[3]
| Airlines | Destinations |
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| Sichuan Airlines | Chengdu–Shuangliu |
Two China Eastern pilots had their licences revoked and an assistant captain was suspended from flying after a failed landing at Kangding Airport on 1 May 2016.[4] They were attempting to land anAirbus A319 on a scheduled flight MU5443 from Chengdu to Kangding. An attempt was made to land during bad weather; the aircraft hit the ground outside the runway at great speed, almost causing a serious crash. The aircraft suffered damage to its landing gear and tail, and returned to Chengdu after missing the approach. The co-pilot was seated in the cabin, with the assistant captain in the cockpit, however two experienced captains are required to be at the controls when landing at this high altitude airport.