Gateway to Xinjiang's Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture.
Location
Korla, China
Korla Licheng Airport (IATA: KRL, ICAO: ZWKL) is a civil airport serving Korla, the second-largest city in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. It acts as an important regional hub connecting Korla to major Chinese cities given the city's relative remoteness in the Tarim Basin.
The airport supports the region's significant petroleum and natural gas industries, as Korla is a key center for oil exploration in the Tarim oilfield. Passenger traffic reflects both business travelers related to the energy sector and tourists visiting the scenic Bosten Lake and surrounding Bayingolin prefecture.
Domestic routes connect Korla primarily to cities such as Ürümqi, Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, with Chinese carriers operating the majority of scheduled services.
Terminals
The airport operates a single passenger terminal handling domestic flights.
Getting to & from
Ground transport between the airport and central Korla is available via taxis and shuttle buses.
Airlines here
China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines are among the primary carriers serving Korla Licheng Airport on domestic routes.
Notable facts
- ›Korla is the second-largest city in Xinjiang and a major center for the Tarim Basin oil industry.
- ›The airport primarily handles domestic routes, with Ürümqi being a key connecting hub.
- ›Bosten Lake, one of China's largest inland freshwater lakes, is a major tourist draw near Korla.
- ›The airport's elevation reflects Korla's location in the Tarim Basin at relatively low altitude for Xinjiang.
- ›Korla is known as the 'Fragrant Pear Capital' of China, and the airport serves agricultural export logistics.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
