Tibet Airlines
A Chinese passenger airline headquartered in Lhasa that operates scheduled services from Tibet and Chengdu under the Tibet Airlines brand and, since 2026, the Xizang Airlines name.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Xizang Airlines, formerly branded Tibet Airlines, is a Chinese scheduled passenger carrier headquartered in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. Its registered office is located in the Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone, and the airline also maintains an office in Chengdu. The carrier was established after receiving approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March 2010, with a business concept centered on connecting Tibet with other parts of China and selected international destinations. The airline initially ordered three Airbus A319 aircraft and received its first aircraft on 2 July 2011. It began commercial operations on 26 July 2011 with a route linking Lhasa Gonggar Airport and Ngari Gunsa Airport. During its first operating year it added services to major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai. The use of Airbus A319 aircraft was significant for an airline serving the high-altitude Tibetan plateau, where airport operating conditions require appropriate aircraft performance and specialized operational planning. Tibet Airlines subsequently expanded beyond its domestic network. It explored potential services to India and other South and Southeast Asian countries and publicly discussed longer-term plans for direct European operations. Its first international service began on 1 July 2016, linking Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport with Samui Airport in Thailand. The carrier later announced plans involving Sochi in Russia and a proposed Jinan–Helsinki service, illustrating an ambition to develop international links from Chinese cities as well as from Tibet itself. The airline’s network and operating base have remained closely associated with Lhasa and Chengdu. Scheduled operations have been described as originating principally from Lhasa Gonggar Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The carrier has also entered into codeshare arrangements with Air China and Loong Air, extending the commercial reach of its services through cooperation with other Chinese airlines. In May 2022, Tibet Airlines experienced a serious runway-excursion accident involving Flight 9833 at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. The Airbus A319 veered off the runway during takeoff and caught fire. All passengers and crew survived, although some people sustained minor injuries during the evacuation. The incident became the most prominent safety event associated with the airline in publicly available reference material. On 16 February 2026, the company rebranded as Xizang Airlines. The change aligns the English-facing name with the Chinese name 西藏航空 and the official geographic term Xizang used in the airline’s canonical Wikipedia subject. Despite the rebrand, the company remains an active Chinese passenger airline, with reported services in China, Hong Kong and Vietnam as of April 2026.
History
Xizang Airlines was created as Tibet Airlines after receiving regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March 2010. The new airline was intended to provide scheduled passenger connectivity for Tibet while linking the region with major Chinese transportation centers. Its early fleet plan called for three Airbus A319 aircraft, and the first aircraft was delivered on 2 July 2011. Commercial operations began on 26 July 2011 with a service from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to Ngari Gunsa Airport. This route connected two important Tibetan aviation points and established Lhasa as the airline’s principal base. Later in 2011, the carrier added flights to Beijing and Shanghai, expanding its role from a regional Tibetan operator into a carrier connecting the autonomous region with China’s largest metropolitan areas. The airline also pursued international growth. Before launching overseas services, it expressed interest in routes to India and other countries in South and Southeast Asia and discussed possible direct links to Europe. Its first international flight operated on 1 July 2016 between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Samui Airport in Thailand. In September 2016, the airline confirmed that it had received permission for a proposed service to Sochi via Sanya and Chengdu, with operations expected to begin in 2017. In January 2019, Finnish airport operator Finavia announced that the carrier planned a twice-weekly Jinan–Helsinki route using Airbus A330 aircraft. Corporate operations have remained centered on Lhasa, where the airline’s headquarters and registered office are located in the Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone. Chengdu has served as an additional operating and administrative center, reflecting the importance of western China’s largest aviation hub to the airline’s network. The carrier has also maintained codeshare relationships with Air China and Loong Air. On 12 May 2022, Tibet Airlines Flight 9833, an Airbus A319 registered as B-6425, departed from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and veered off the runway during takeoff. The aircraft caught fire, but all people on board survived. Evacuation resulted in minor injuries. The event is the principal accident recorded in the available reference material. The airline changed its name and branding to Xizang Airlines on 16 February 2026. The rebrand did not represent a change to the airline’s basic role as a Chinese scheduled passenger carrier. Reference information available for April 2026 describes the airline as serving destinations in China, Hong Kong and Vietnam, while its principal operational bases remain associated with Lhasa Gonggar Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
- 2026
Rebrand to Xizang Airlines
[1]The former Tibet Airlines adopted the Xizang Airlines name on 16 February.
- 2022
Chongqing runway accident
[1]Flight 9833 veered off the runway during takeoff; everyone on board survived.
- 2019
Proposed Jinan–Helsinki service
[1]Finavia announced a planned twice-weekly Jinan–Helsinki route using Airbus A330 aircraft.
- 2016
First international flight
[1]The carrier opened international operations with a Chengdu–Samui route in Thailand.
- 2011
First aircraft delivered
[1]The airline received its first Airbus A319 on 2 July from an initial order for three aircraft.
- 2011
First scheduled route
[1]Commercial service began on 26 July between Lhasa Gonggar and Ngari Gunsa.
- 2010
Regulatory approval
[1]The Civil Aviation Administration of China approved the creation of Tibet Airlines in March.
Products and positioning
A regional Chinese airline associated with Tibet, high-altitude connectivity, and links between Lhasa, Chengdu, other major Chinese cities and selected international destinations.
Passenger air transport · 2011
Scheduled domestic passenger services
The airline’s core business is scheduled passenger transportation within China. Its network has included routes from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to other Tibetan destinations and major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Chengdu serves as an important secondary base for domestic operations, giving the carrier access to a major western Chinese hub.
International passenger air transport · 2016
International passenger services
Xizang Airlines has operated or planned international passenger routes linking Chinese cities with destinations in Asia and Europe. Its first international flight connected Chengdu with Samui, Thailand, in 2016. Subsequent plans and announcements included services involving Sochi and Helsinki, while later reference information identifies international or cross-border markets including Hong Kong and Vietnam.
Airline partnership
Airline codeshare services
The airline has codeshare agreements with Air China and Loong Air. These arrangements allow participating carriers to market selected flights under their own codes and can broaden passenger access to the airline’s network beyond routes operated solely under its own designation.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2026
Corporate rebrand to Xizang AirlinesStrategyBackground
The airline had historically operated under the Tibet Airlines name while using the Chinese name 西藏航空.
Action taken
On 16 February 2026, the company changed its English-facing brand to Xizang Airlines.
Aftermath
The rebranded airline continued operating as a Chinese scheduled passenger carrier serving domestic and selected international markets.
2016
Launch of international operationsProduct launchBackground
After developing its domestic network, Tibet Airlines pursued international connectivity from Chengdu and other Chinese cities.
Action taken
The airline inaugurated service between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Samui Airport in Thailand on 1 July 2016.
Aftermath
The route marked the carrier’s entry into international passenger operations and was followed by further proposals involving Russia and Finland.
Recent events
Tibet Airlines opens Lhasa–Lanzhou–Jiuzhaigou route[8]
Reported:
Tibet Airlines opened a route connecting Lhasa, Lanzhou and Jiuzhaigou, with three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Sources8 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/tibet-airlines · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled