en.Wedoany.com Reported - On June 23, as the Chengdu Airlines C909 aircraft "Swan" themed flight smoothly landed at Hejing Bayinbuluke Airport, located at an altitude of 2,506.85 meters, the Urumqi–Hejing–Kashgar route was officially inaugurated. This marks the second high-altitude route operated by the C909 aircraft, following the Kashgar–Tashkurgan route, further validating the adaptability of domestically produced commercial aircraft in complex operational environments. It also injects strong aerial momentum into the tourism peak season of the Bayinbuluke Grassland in Xinjiang.
On the same day, Hejing Bayinbuluke Airport welcomed the C909 aircraft with the highest civil aviation ceremony, the "water salute." Since its opening in August 2024, this is the first time the airport has hosted a regular civil aviation passenger route. From the temporary operations of the early "King Air 350" aircraft to the current regular flights operated by the C909, the evolution of aircraft models and the densification of routes have driven Hejing Bayinbuluke Airport to achieve a leapfrog development from "being built" and "taking flight" to "flying well."
The route operates every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The outbound flight EU1909 departs from Urumqi Tianshan International Airport at 13:55, arrives at Hejing Bayinbuluke Airport at 14:55, takes off again at 15:35, and reaches Kashgar Laining International Airport at 17:05. The return flight EU1910 departs from Kashgar at 17:45, makes a stop at Hejing Bayinbuluke, and returns to Urumqi at 21:05. Passengers on this flight can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the magnificent "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns" of the Kaidu River from an altitude of 10,000 meters, experiencing the unique thrill of "viewing the grassland from above the clouds."
The exterior livery of the "Swan" themed aircraft is inspired by the core landscapes of Bayinbuluke, vividly integrating the majestic meanders of the Kaidu River's "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns," the golden river valley at romantic sunset, the dynamic ecology of Swan Lake Wetland, and the profound historical and cultural elements of the Eastward Return. The aircraft prominently features the slogan "Bayinbuluke Tells Stories to the World," symbolizing that the natural wonders and human spirit carried by this grassland will soar through the clouds aboard domestically produced commercial aircraft, gently narrating the moving tales of the border region to the world. The cabin interior also immerses passengers in the stunning scenery of Bayinbuluke, with luggage racks, tray tables, and seat headrests showcasing the rugged beauty of the Duku Highway, the winding flow of the "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns," the lush tranquility of the Gongnaisi Forest, and the plateau lake scenery of the Small Heavenly Lake, allowing passengers to experience the changing seasons and majestic landscapes of Bayinbuluke even at 10,000 meters.
It is reported that Bayinbuluke is a national-level eco-tourism zone, featuring world-class natural landscapes such as the "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns." Previously, travelers from Urumqi or Kashgar mainly relied on long-distance buses, trains, self-driving, or transfers via Korla Airport, which were time-consuming. With the opening of this route, the aerial travel time from these two cities to Bayinbuluke has been shortened to about one hour, significantly improving travel convenience. Hejing Bayinbuluke Airport is the second high-altitude airport in Xinjiang (civil aviation standard: altitude ≥ 2,438 meters), characterized by unique geographical conditions and complex meteorological challenges, including high altitude, low air pressure, and strong air currents.
The launch of this route not only fills the gap in civil aviation services at the airport but also serves as a key leverage point for the development of tourism resources in Hejing County. It significantly reduces the time and distance between the area and the outside world, improves the "multi-modal transportation" system of Bayingolin Prefecture, and accelerates the deep integration of transportation with cultural and tourism industries. This holds profound significance for upgrading the tourism sector, promoting rural revitalization, and enhancing ethnic unity.
As a pioneer in operating domestically produced commercial aircraft, Chengdu Airlines continues to deepen its presence in the Xinjiang market. Since beginning operations in Xinjiang on June 2, 2023, the airline has established a "trunk-feeder" route network centered on Urumqi, with Turpan, Yining, and Kashgar as key hubs. The C909 aircraft operates over 60 routes in Xinjiang, serving 28 airports in the region, and has launched international routes connecting Kashgar to Khujand and Osh in Central Asia, effectively improving travel convenience and openness in the border area.
The year 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of the commercial operation of the C909 aircraft by Chengdu Airlines. Since the world's first C909 began commercial operations in Chengdu on June 28, 2016, domestically produced civil aircraft have taken a historic step from development to market. Over the past decade, from serving the first passenger to transporting over nine million passengers, from single-base operations to multi-hub coordination, and from regular routes to high-altitude and international routes, Chengdu Airlines has steadfastly fulfilled its national mission, creating a "Chengdu Airlines model" for the large-scale operation of domestically produced commercial aircraft.
Chengdu Airlines stated that, in the next step, it will fully leverage the unique advantages of the C909 aircraft—"short range, multiple segments, and trunk-feeder connectivity"—to continuously expand its route network and propel domestically produced commercial aircraft into a new phase of large-scale commercial operations, better meeting the public's demand for quality air travel.
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