Night flights are expected to be operational for the first time on a major air route that links mountainous Tibet to the other parts of China, according to the carrier, Air China.

Air China will open historic night flights between Lhasa, capital of Tibet, and Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, just east of Tibet.

The Chengdu-Lhasa flight, opened 39 years ago, is the major one to Tibet, and about 85 percent passengers entering or leaving Tibet take it. The annual number of passengers by this flight stands at 800,000.

The operation of night flights will increase the passenger and cargo transport capacity of Tibet by a big margin, said Air China.

The fast-going economy and prosperous tourism in Tibet have brought out soaring numbers of tourists and business travelers. But Gongga Airport in Lhasa, 4,000 meters above sea level, used to have its capacity limited to daylight for safety reasons. Planes have to leave Lhasa for Chengdu two hours before sunset -- even earlier if they leave Chengdu for plateau-based Lhasa.

Air China officials say technicians are installing precise navigation systems on the aircraft used on night flights. When completed, Air China can add a number of flights that can safely fly in late afternoon and at night.

The number of passengers who take planes entering or leaving Tibet has increased by 20 percent annually, frequently leading to seasonal or short-termed delay of passengers who had to wait as long as one week for a plane ticket.

Air China did not give a specific time for the formal operation of the proposed night flights.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2004)