OREANDA-NEWS. August 29, 2011. Shandong Airlines officially began operation of flights between Jinan and Kashgar. This provided a new means of travel for aid and construction workers destined for this remote region. Officials from the Shandong-Xinjiang Aid Headquarters were amongst the first passengers of this flight to Kashgar to begin their aid and construction work, reported the press-centre of Shandong Airlines.

Shandong Airlines has paid close attention to the government’s “Develop the West” policy in recent years and has worked diligently to open direct flights between Shandong Province and Xinjiang. The opening of this new air route required meticulous preparation according to the standards and demands of the Shandong-Xianjiang Aid Team’s Kashgar construction projects. In addition to the existing flights between Jinan and Urumqi (including indirect flights via Xi’an), there are now 16 flights destined for Urumqi and Kashgar every week. The Airlines’ expansion into Xinjiang does not stop here.

Shandong Airlines will begin operating daily flights between Qingdao and Urumqi via Taiyuan. This brings the total number of Xinjiang-bound flights to 23. These flights will bring together the people of Xinjiang and Shandong, foster a sense of unity amongst various ethnic groups, and stimulates trade, tourism, and cultural interaction. Increased flights will also lead to a more favourable environment for investment. The links to Xinjiang and specifically Kashgar also serves as a bridge to trade with the Middle East. In addition, increased air traffic will also improve the development potential within Xinjiang and better utilize the hub structure of air transport.

The Jinan-Kashgar flight employs Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and operates under flight number SC4905/6. It will depart Jinan every Monday and Saturday morning at 8:40, and arrive in Urumqi at 13:10, where it will take off again at 14:20, bound for arrival at Kashgar at 16:10. The return flight leaves Kashgar at 17:00, lands and departs Urumqi at 18:40 and 19:30 respectively, and returns to Jinan at 23:15. The new route will contribute to the opening up and economic development of the Kashgar region and improve the lives of the multitudes of people who reside in the region.

Kashgar is regarded as the “western gate” of China and is close to the border with five countries. Six entry ports are located in the Kashgar area. The opportunity is clear. In May 2010, during the Central Work Conference on Xinjiang, the Central Committee designated Kashgar a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The establishment of the SEZ in Western Xinjiang is a giant step forward for the development strategy of the Kashgar area, and Xinjiang in general. Kashgar Airport is the second airport in Xinjiang to become a port of entry, and is now Xinjiang’s second-largest airport. The development of civil aviation in the region is an important part of the advancement of the region’s economic development.