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Chengdu, China, is served by several airports, with Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) being the closest, located 8.9 miles from the city. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, which opened in 2021, is also a major hub, and there are smaller airports such as Mianyang Airport. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is a large airport with two terminals, hundreds of check-in counters, and over 70 boarding gates. It is a hub for several airlines and has flights to numerous international destinations. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, on the other hand, is newer and expected to be the city's main international airport, with Air China as its primary airline. It remains to be seen which airport in Chengdu is better in terms of facilities, convenience, and flight options, as both have their advantages and ongoing developments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Closest airport to Chengdu | Chengdu (CTU) Airport, 8.9 miles away |
| Other nearby airports | Tianfu International (TFU), Mianyang (MIG) |
| Chengdu's second international airport | Chengdu Tianfu International Airport |
| Chengdu's first international airport | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport |
| Annual passenger traffic at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | 40 million passengers per year, capable of serving about 50 million |
| Number of terminals at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | 2 |
| Area covered by Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport terminals | 125 acres |
| Number of check-in counters at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Hundreds |
| Number of security channels at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Over 60 |
| Number of boarding gates at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Over 70 |
| Facilities at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | First-aid clinics, duty-free shops, VIP and First-Class lounges, car parks for small and large vehicles |
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What You'll Learn
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
In 1957, Chengdu civil aviation flights shifted to Shuangliu Airport, establishing connections with various cities within China, including Beijing, Chongqing, and Xi'an. The airport underwent significant expansion between 1994 and 2001, extending its runway to accommodate larger aircraft like the Boeing 747-400. This transformation elevated it to an "International Gateway Airport" status in 1993, with the capability to handle an hourly capacity of 3,500 passengers during rush hours.
Spanning 14,000 acres, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport boasts two parallel runways capable of handling takeoffs and landings of A380 aircraft. It has two terminals, T1 and T2, with a combined area of 488,000 square meters. T2 serves domestic flights, while T1 manages international and regional flights. The airport is a hub for several airlines, including Air China, Chengdu Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines, offering flights to over 50 international destinations and more than 170 domestic airports.
Convenient transportation options are available to and from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The CRH train connects the airport to Chengdu South and East railway stations, with tickets priced at approximately ¥11 (around $1.5). Additionally, Airport Bus services provide travel between the airport and various locations in Chengdu, including the city centre and railway stations, with single tickets ranging from ¥10 to ¥12. For those preferring taxis, the fare to the city centre is approximately RMB 60 Yuan.
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Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
Tianfu International Airport is a major hub for Air China, which operates maintenance facilities, a 1,500-bed staff hostel, and a 2,950 sq m lounge at the airport. The airport currently serves international and cargo routes, while the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport specializes in domestic flights.
The airport can be reached by metro line 18, taxi, airport bus, and high-speed rail. There are five bus routes that connect the airport with central Chengdu, and passengers can take buses to Chunxi Road, Chengdu East Railway Station, Global Center, Jinsha Transport Hub Station, and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The metro line 18 connection to Chengdu South railway station takes about 40 minutes for normal trains and 30 minutes for express trains. The airport also offers taxi and mobile app car-hailing services to the city center.
For international travelers, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport offers a 240-hour VISA-FREE TRANSIT policy for citizens from 54 countries who hold valid international travel documents and a connecting travel ticket to a third country with confirmed seats and a departure within 240 hours. This allows for a 10-day visa-free stay in Chengdu.
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Chengdu's airports' history
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China, is served by two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Chengdu is the third city in China to have dual international airports after Beijing and Shanghai.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu Airport is located in the southwest of Chengdu, about 16 to 19 kilometres from the city centre. The airport is connected to downtown Chengdu by the Airport Expressway, the Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan intercity railway, and the Chengdu Metro line 10, which has stations in both terminals. The airport is also connected to the Chengdu East (Chengdu Dong) Railway Station, Global Center, Jinsha Transport Hub Station, and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport by bus.
The history of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport dates back to World War II when it was known as the Shwangliu Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force. In 1956, the airport was put under civil aviation and renamed Chengdu Shuangliu Airport. In 1957, Chengdu civil aviation flights were shifted to Shuangliu Airport from Guanghan Airport, connecting the city to various destinations within China.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport underwent a large-scale expansion from 1994 to 2001, extending the runway to accommodate larger aircraft and constructing a new terminal building. The airport's second runway was completed in December 2009, allowing it to handle larger aircraft like the Airbus A380.
By 2019, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport offered 349 routes, including 121 international or regional routes, with access to 209 destinations, 131 of which were domestic cities. The airport is a hub for Chengdu Airlines, Air China, and Sichuan Airlines, with flights to more than 50 international destinations and over 170 domestic airports.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, located about 50 to 51 kilometres from downtown Chengdu, is the city's second international airport. The airport features two terminal buildings in the shape of the mythical Sunbird, Chengdu's logo, and is expected to be a major hub for Air China and other airlines.
The planning for Chengdu Tianfu International Airport began as early as 2007, and the airport's location was confirmed in 2013. Construction started in May 2016, and the airport officially opened on 27 June 2021. The opening of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport relieved Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, which was exceeding its designed maximum passenger capacity.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is expected to be Chengdu's main international airport, while Shuangliu Airport will primarily handle domestic flights. In 2023, the two airports together handled a total of 538,000 flight takeoffs and landings, with a passenger volume of 74.924 million, making Chengdu the third-busiest city in China in terms of airport systems.
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Chengdu's airports' facilities
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in Southwestern China, has two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU). Chengdu Shuangliu Airport is located about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of downtown Chengdu, while Chengdu Tianfu Airport is located 51 kilometres (32 miles) southeast of downtown Chengdu.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU)
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is one of the oldest airports in China, having been built in 1938 and expanded eight times since. The airport has two terminal buildings, T1 and T2, with T1 temporarily closed for upgrading. T2 offers domestic flights to/from cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Sanya, Tianjin, and Xi’an. The airport has a large-scale expansion of its flight area and navigation area, with a runway extended to 3,600 metres (11,811 ft) in length and 60 metres (197 ft) in width, capable of handling large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-400. The airport has a three-parallel-porch design, accommodating an hourly capacity of 3,500 passengers during rush hours. It is well-connected to downtown Chengdu by the Airport Expressway, the Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan intercity railway, and the Chengdu Metro Line 10, with stations in both terminals. The airport also offers shuttle bus and taxi services, and passengers can easily access trains to the two railway stations in Chengdu. CTU also has left luggage services, baggage packing services, and VIP and first-class lounges with various amenities.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU)
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is Chengdu's second international airport, which opened in June 2021 to relieve the passenger capacity constraints at CTU. The airport features two terminal buildings in the shape of the mythical Sunbird, the logo of Chengdu. The terminals are connected by an automated people mover (APM). Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is a major base for Air China, which operates maintenance facilities, a 1,500-bed staff hostel, and a 2,950 m2 (31,800 sq ft) lounge. The airport has five bus routes connecting it to central Chengdu, including a 24/7 bus service. Additionally, there is a high-speed rail connection to Chengdu East railway station, and taxi and mobile app car-hailing services are available to the city centre.
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Chengdu's airports' flight routes
Chengdu, China, has two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU). Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the closest airport to Chengdu, located 8.9 miles from the city. It has two terminals, T1 and T2, and is served by 8 airlines, flying to 72 destinations. The airport offers non-stop flights to Xining, Yangzhou, Yichang, Yinchuan, Yining, Yueyang, Yuncheng, Zhaotong, and Zhengzhou, among other Chinese cities. Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou are the three most popular routes from Chengdu. The airport also operates intercontinental flights to the United States, with seasonal direct flights to San Francisco (SFO) offered by United Airlines.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, located 33.1 miles from Chengdu, is the city's newest international airport. It is expected to be a major hub for Air China and will serve as a regional and international hub for the region. The airline has launched routes from Chengdu to cities like London, Paris, and Frankfurt, and offers strong connectivity with other major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. China Eastern is also preparing to operate from this airport, with several domestic destinations expected to switch over starting July 1st. Once Chengdu Tianfu International Airport becomes operational, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is expected to focus more on domestic routes.
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Frequently asked questions
Chengdu has two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is 8.9 miles from Chengdu and is the nearest airport to the city. It is a hub for Chengdu Airlines, Air China, and Sichuan Airlines, and serves over 40 million passengers per year. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, on the other hand, is Chengdu's second international airport and is located 33.1 miles from the city. It is expected to be the city's main international airport, with most international and cargo routes moved away from Shuangliu Airport.
Based on this information, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport seems to be the better option in terms of proximity to the city and the number of passengers served. However, with the opening of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, it is planned for it to become the main international airport for the city, so it may be preferable in the future.
To get from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to the city centre, you can take the Airport Expressway, the Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan intercity railway, or the Chengdu Metro line. The Airport Bus No. 1 also goes to the city centre for ¥10.
Yes, there are hotels near Chengdu airport. Prices start at $25 USD per night.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport serves as a hub for Chengdu Airlines, Air China, and Sichuan Airlines. It is also a stopover or midway point for many travellers passing through China. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, on the other hand, has Air China and China Eastern as its main operating airlines. Hainan Airlines also operates from this airport.
If you already have a visa for China, you are allowed to stay in Chengdu for as long as your visa is valid. For travellers from 53 countries, a 6-day (144-hour) visa-free stay in Chengdu is permitted under the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) programme. This is only applicable to those travelling from one country to another through China and does not allow visits to other Chinese cities.
