Extension work of Urumqi International Airport was kicked off on Wednesday. When completed, the airport will become an important air gateway linking China to Central, West, and South Asia.
 
The extension work involved a total investment of 2.83 billion yuan and the financing sources came from the Civil Aviation of Administration of China (CAAC), Xinjiang local government and China Southern Airlines. When finished, the new airport will have a terminal building of 106,000 square meters, an air cargo terminal building of 48,000 square meters, and an apron of 438,000 square meters. Meanwhile, conditions of the air control center, the weather monitor station, and the oil unloading station will be improved. The telecommunication facilities, electricity and water supply systems, as well as the heating system in the airport will also become better.

The extension work for the Urumqi International Airport is listed as one of the major tasks for local aviation department during the eleventh five-year program. The extension is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2008. By then, its passenger handling capacity will reach 16 million people, and its cargo and post handling capacity will reach 275,000 tons every year. About 155,000 airplanes will be able to land and take off from the airport every year.