The Gunsa Airport in southwest Tibet is expected to start operation on July 1, 2010, to become the fourth civil airport on the “Roof of the World”. Currently Gonggar airport supports the majorities of air traveling in and out of Tibet. The other airports in Tibet are Nyingchi Airport in Nyingchi Prefecture and Bamda Airport in Qamdo Prefecture.
Gunsa Airport in Ngari Prefecture, more than 4,000 meters above sea level, is expected to have an annual throughput capacity of 120,000 passengers by 2020. China Southwest Airlines will operate scheduled flights between Ngari and Lhasa and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Construction began in May 2007 and is expected to cost over 200 million US dollars. Only five months every year are suitable for construction work because of harsh weather conditions and altitude. Workers took shifts to work around the clock during those 5 precious months.
As in all industrialized countries, railroads served as major “blood supply” vessels to local economy. All is good, but inevitable changes to the environment, pollution, over-population are bound to follow. Tourists often wish to see a Tibet untouched by any modern marvels but I suppose it is not fair to wish any culture be captured in a cultural museum either. A balance of modernization and culture preservation should be kept in mind.
