Shanxi hopes short-haul flights will boost province's tourism

North China s Shanxi province is looking to boost tourism by developing a short-haul flight service and improving its transportation system.

Release time : 2019-05-28 10:49:57

source : China Daily

North China's Shanxi province is looking to boost tourism by developing a short-haul flight service and improving its transportation system.

A direct flight linking the city of Lyuliang and the city of Taiyuan, the provincial capital, was launched on April 30. The flight cuts the time of the 200-kilometer journey between the two from three hours by car to just 45 minutes by air.

"Flight tickets are in high demand. Flights in May are almost fully booked," says Yun Peigang, general manager of Lyuliang Dawu Airport. "It is a new way of traveling, introducing short-distance flights between cities in Shanxi and providing breathtaking views for passengers."

Li Ying, a passenger who has already experienced the new air route, says she spent just 28 yuan ($4) on a single trip. "It's even cheaper than a bus ticket, and the scenery was magnificent."

The cost of bus ticket between the two cities is 32 yuan.

Li took a Kodiak 100 aircraft, which can seat seven passengers. The aircraft can take off on a 200-meter-long runway and usually flies at an altitude of 3,600 meters, with a minimum altitude of 600 meters.

"It flew very low, and the mountain view from the plane was as clear as if I was sitting beside the window of my home looking down. It was a completely different experience from flying in a big plane," Li says.

Besides the Taiyuan-Lyuliang air route, at the same time, Shanxi also launched short-haul flights linking Taiyuan to the cities of Datong, Yuncheng and Changzhi.

All the short-distance air routes are operated by light aircraft, with the ticket prices capped at 60 yuan.

Shanxi is a demonstration case for the development of the country's aviation industry.

"To stimulate the development of aviation services in Shanxi, the province established Shanxi General Aviation Co Ltd last year and started to develop short-haul flights," says Shi Lei, chairman of the company.

The province also plans to introduce light aircraft into a wide range of