Since Afghanistan declared to shut down its territorial air space on September 17, many foreign airlines that fly by the way of Afghan air space had to change their route and make flights via the air space controlled by Urumqi. In the first ten days of October alone, flights via Urumqi have reached over 400 sorties.
With the tension in Afghanistan worsened, especially after the war broke out between the United States and Afghanistan on October 7, more flights were operated via Urumqi.
For Thailand Airlines a round-trip voyage from Bangkok to Stockholm is shortened by 90 minutes after they take the air route via Urumqi, with the cost saved by scores of thousand US dollars. Meanwhile, several other airlines also found out in a short time that the quality of facilities and staff of Urumqi civil aviation administration is much better than that of Afghan administration in Kabul. Considering several aspects such as economic profits and flight security, these airlines finally turned the temporary transfer to long-term cooperation.
In order to cope with the busy flight situation, civil aviation administration of Urumqi strengthened the circular and coordination of the controlling and relief work with the entry-exit stations of Kirghizia and Pakistan.
Civil Aviation Regional Controlling Room of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region also selected elites, especially the staff that are good at foreign language, to provide concentrated information transmission service to foreign aircrew so as to guarantee the security of the flights by overseas airlines.
( People's Daily November 28, 2001)
