Airports at high altitudes challenge pilots amid thin air

Shigatse Tingri Airport opened in 2022 near Everest Base Camp. It serves Shigatse city with domestic flights from Chengdu and Chongqing via Tibet Airlines and West Air.

Garze Kangding Airport has been operational for over 15 years but handles fewer passengers than its capacity allows. It provides a faster alternative to lengthy bus journeys between Kangding and Chengdu.

Ngari Gunsa Airport is one of the busiest among these high-altitude airports with nearly 200,000 passengers annually. The airport also serves military purposes due to its strategic location near the Indian border.

Ganzi Gesaer Airport opened in 2019 as China's fifth airport over 4,000 meters above sea level. Currently served by Sichuan Airlines, there are plans to expand connections to other cities like Chongqing and Xi'an.

El Alto International Airport in Bolivia is the highest international airport globally but does not handle transcontinental flights due to altitude constraints. The main airline operating here is Boliviana alongside LATAM Chile and LATAM Peru.

Shannan Longzi Airport began commercial operations in January 2023 after rapid construction supported by Chinese government investment in Tibet's aviation infrastructure. It currently offers regular services between Chengdu operated by Air China.

Captain Nicolas Rojas Airport in Bolivia serves Potosí city with flights operated by Boliviana connecting La Paz and Santa Cruz. The airport is equipped with a non-directional beacon aiding navigation over long distances.

Yushu Batang Airport handled almost 400,000 passengers according to recent statistics and maintains scheduled flights from major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Xi'an using Airbus A319 aircraft primarily operated by China Eastern Airlines.

High-altitude operations require careful preparation involving specialized pilot training and appropriate de-icing procedures due to low air density affecting thrust and lift capabilities of aircraft engines necessitating longer runways for takeoff speed achievement amidst challenging weather conditions.