The Turpan Airport expansion and renovation project, a key continuing project of the autonomous region, is progressing steadily according to schedule. The runway extension, expanded apron, and general aviation (and isolated) apron's airfield, navigation aid lighting, air traffic control, and ancillary works have all been completed. The flight area project is about to undergo industry acceptance.

　　On April 2, the construction site of the Turpan Airport expansion and renovation project was bustling with activity, as construction workers methodically hurried their work to meet the schedule.

　　Zhang Haitao, the on-site project manager, introduced that on March 10, the continuing construction of the project fully resumed, and the current worker return rate is 100%. In recent days, workers responsible for the oil depot area expansion are implementing the main formwork and rebar tying construction for three building units. “In mid-April, the project will undergo industry acceptance, which is a recent priority and will qualify the expanded apron and other facilities for operation,” said Zhang Haitao. Another priority is organizing the tender for the terminal area. Later, the construction tasks in the terminal area will be scheduled with reversed deadlines to accelerate progress while ensuring quality, striving for early completion and early operation.

　　To effectively alleviate the operational pressure on Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in winter and support the construction of Xinjiang's international aviation hub, the autonomous region launched the Turpan Airport expansion and renovation project, which broke ground on April 15 last year. The main construction content includes extending the runway from 2,800 meters to 3,200 meters eastward, and building new connecting taxiways, taxiways, and navigation aid lighting systems according to 4C standards; constructing a 24,000-square-meter apron, a 22,000-square-meter general aviation apron, and a 10,000-square-meter terminal; renovating the existing 5,300-square-meter terminal into an international terminal that also accommodates domestic flights; and supporting facilities such as air traffic control, fuel supply, and fire rescue.

　　Zhu Guofeng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the Turpan Municipal Development and Reform Commission, stated that upon completion, the Turpan Airport expansion and renovation project will be of great significance in effectively relieving the pressure on Urumqi Airport's route network and passenger flow density, enhancing its international hub status in the Eurasian region, and comprehensively building a new pattern of Xinjiang's opening-up in the new era.

　　According to the “Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Airport Flight Diversion Construction Plan (2020—2025)”, to ensure the diversion needs of Urumqi Diwopu International Airport and the sustainable development of all airports in Xinjiang, and to further enhance the comprehensive support capacity of Xinjiang civil aviation, by 2025, regional airports in Xinjiang will form a well-structured and functionally complementary flight diversion system, with Turpan Airport as the core diversion airport, Karamay, Hami, and Yining as key diversion airports in northern Xinjiang, Korla, Kuqa, Kashgar, and Aksu as key diversion airports in southern Xinjiang, and other regional airports as resource supplements.

　　As the primary diversion airport for Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, Turpan Airport has been incorporated into the management of Urumqi International Airport Branch, achieving an integrated operation mode of Urumqi and Turpan airports. Its support capacity continues to improve, and it can undertake more than 50% of the diversion flight support tasks annually.