Flying to Tibet

Tibet opens both international and domestic airlines. Currently, tourists can fly directly to Lhasa from other major cities of China, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xining, Xi'an, Kunming, Zhongdian. Besides, there are flights to Lhasa from Katmandu, capital of Nepal, and Chamdo in Tibet. Moreover, a new airline direct to Lhasa-Xiamen to Lhasa Flight will open within 2011. A new airlines, Tibet Airlines is expected to commence operations in July 2011. Tibet Airlines will launch three air routes: flights from Lhasa to Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. After launching these three routes, another three routes will be launched: flights from Lhasa to Nyingchi, Shigatse and Nagchu. But after the Qinghai-Tibet railway was put in service, lots of tourists choose train as their way to Tibet so as to enjoy more magical sceneries as well as to adapt to the high altitude gradually.

Chengdu to Lhasa flights and return:
There are more than 10 flights to Lhasa in peak travel season and 5 flights in low travel season, from early morning to late afternoon. The full price for one way flight ticket is 1500RMB(Appro 230USD) and the airport tax is about 190RMB(appro.30USD), while the roundtrip flight tickets Chengdu-Lhasa-Chengdu unusually at 70-90% of the full price. The flight from Lhasa to Chengdu is the same.

Beijing to Lhasa flights and return:
There are two direct flights a day from Beijing to Lhasa with a stopover in Chengdu and it takes about 5 hours from Beijing to Lhasa. One is by Air China, and the another is by China Southern Airlines. The flight departs from Beijing in the morning and arrive in Lhasa in the afternoon. The price is 395USD including airport tax and usually at full fare in peak travel season, at 70%-80% of full fare in low travel season. The flights return to Beijing are the same.

Shanghai to Lhasa flights and return:
By China Eastern Airlines, one direct flight a day, takes 6 hours. 445USD for one way including airport tax. This flight is always at full fare all year around.

Shangri-la to Lhasa flights and return:
Shang-rila to Lhasa flight is seasonal, from late April to late October. The price is 230USD for an economic class. However you can hardly purchase a ticket at that price in peak travel season, from July to September. The Lhasa to Shangri-la flight comes from Kunming. The airline company prefers to sell long distance ticket from Kunming to Lhasa with a stop over in Shangri-la rather than sell a short distance ticket from Shangri-la to Lhasa. The prices of Shangri to Lhasa are always displayed as first class price at about 400USD.

Kunming to Lhasa flights and return:
The flight from Kunming also takes people from Shangri-la to Lhasa, still a seasonal flight from April to October. The full price is at 320USD including airport tax. Sometimes the China Eastern airlines offers extremely cheap price on this flight, which can be as low as 150USD.

Guangzhou to Lhasa flights and return:
1 flight a day with a stopover in Chengdu. The China southern airlines sell the ticket at about 410USD and seldom provide discount. The flight is seasonal as Kunming to Lhasa flight.

Chongqing to Lhasa flights and return:
2 or 3 flights a day by Air China and Sichuan Airlines. The full price is at 278USD. Compared with the flight to Chengdu to Lhasa or Lhasa to Chengdu, Lhasa-Chongqing flight usually offers more discount even in peak travel season.

Xi'an to Lhasa flights and return:
1 or 2 flights a day, take more than 2 hours. The one way flight is about 280USD including airport tax. The airline company sometimes provides discount but not too much.

Chengdu to Nyingchi flights and return:
1 flight a day. The flight departs in the early morning from Chengdu, landing in Nyingchi Milin airport, the second important airport in Tibet located 40km south of Baiyi town. Chengdu to Nyingchi is a busy airline. There are a lot of travelers entering Tibet through Nyingchi as the low altitude of Nyingchi can help them against the AMS. The Nyingchi milin airport gives the travelers a chance to do a loop trip. Travelers flying to Lhasa and travelling eastwards can fly out through Milin airport. It is obviously that 1 or 2 flights a day cannot provide enough seats for a large amount of visitors, so the air ticket booking in peak travel season is a big problem. If travelers are planning a Tibet tour starting or ending in Nyingchi, please book the air tickets as early as possible. Of course the price is at full fare 230USD include airport tax.

Kathmandu to Lhasa flights and return:
Unfortuntely Air China is the only one to operate the flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu and Kathmandu to Lhasa. The flight originally starts from Chengdu to Kathmandu with a stop over in Lhasa. The number of seats is limited in airplane so the price is high. Its normal price is 450USD including tax for one way and raises to more than 650USD during Chinese National Holiday(Oct 1st-7th) and Chinese Spring Festival(Jan to mid Feb).