A new direct flight between northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Kyrgyzstan took off early Tuesday. The two-hour Urumqi-Bishkek service complements the existing 14 weekly round-trip flights. The number of passengers flying the route is up 34% from a year ago to over 43,000. Urumqi Tianshan International Airport is China's gateway to Central Asia, serving 12 destinations, and is a perfect launchpad for Silk Road explorers. Summer travel since July has been boosted by China's visa-free policies and streamlined airport services. July passenger numbers at Urumqi airport topped 150,000, up nearly 16%.
GULZANA NAZARKULOVA Kyrgyz Tourist "The fight was amazing, it took us only one and a half hours directly from Bishkek to Urumqi. It's all nice, the flights are increasing, especially from Bishkek direct flights to Urumqi. Because before we used to come from Alma-Ata to China and right now since it's increasing and the flight was full, I think it will be very good international agreements between the two countries."
WU YONG Deputy Chief Urumqi Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station "To manage the summer rush, we've rolled out online arrival card filing, seamless transfers and fast crew clearance with airlines. As cross-border tourism surges, we're partnering with foreigner service centers to offer one-stop support on inquiries, payments and communications."
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