Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (IATA: TFU, ICAO: ZUTF) is a major air hub of Western China and one of the two international airports serving Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province, the other one being Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU).
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport 成都天府国际机场 | |||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Chengdu Tianfu International Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
Owner/Operator | Sichuan Provincial Airport Group | ||||||||||||||||||
Serves | Chengdu, Sichuan, China | ||||||||||||||||||
Location | Jianyang, Chengdu | ||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 27 June 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hub for | |||||||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 440 m / 1,444 ft | ||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 30.319°N 104.445°E | ||||||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() TFU Location in Sichuan ![]() ![]() TFU Location in China | |||||||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Statistics (2021) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Chengdu Tianfu International Airport | |||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 成都天府国际机场 | ||||||
Traditional Chinese | 成都天府國際機場 | ||||||
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The airport is located at Lujia Town, Jianyang, Chengdu, 51 kilometers (32 mi) southeast of Downtown Chengdu. It is named after the Tianfu New Area, a development zone for Chengdu in which the airport is. Construction began in May 2016 and the airport opened on 27 June 2021.
History
Plans for a new airport for Chengdu had been in place since 2007.[3] In May 2011, officials confirmed the planning process for selecting a location had started.[4] In June 2013, the Civil Aviation Administration of China officially confirmed and approved Jianyang's Lujia Town as the location for the new airport.[5]
In January 2015, the State Council and Central Military Commission approved the new airport project,[6] and the official name Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (Chinese: 成都天府国际机场) was finalized by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in September 2015.[7][8]
In January 2021, flight testing was done[9][10] and on 27 June 2021, the first commercial flight departed from the airport.[11]
Design
The airport is intended to become the third-largest airport hub in China, after Beijing and Shanghai. The airport opened with three runways (two north-south and one east-west) with two terminals with a capacity of 60 million passengers per year by 2025 and a cargo capacity of 24.45 thousand tonnes.[12]
The full plan includes six runways and four terminals with the capacity to handle 90 million passengers per year.[13] On June 1, 2015, the Sichuan Provincial Airport Group announced a general design scheme for the airport. The winning design was by China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute, China Airport Construction Group Corporation, and French architectural firm ADP Ingenierie.
![](../I/Main_concourse_of_T1.jpg.webp)
The airport features two terminal buildings in the shape of the mythical Sunbird, used as a logo for the city of Chengdu. From a central hollow circular core, 6 arms radiate outwards with both terminals mirroring the other.[14]
- Departure concourse of Terminal 2
- Security area of Terminal 2
- Airside of Terminal 2
- Arrival area of Terminal 2
- Border Control Area at Terminal 1 of TFU
- Terminal 1 of Tianfu International Airport
- Concourse of Terminal 1 (International Departure) of TFU
- Terminal 1 (HK/MO/TW/Int'l Departure) of TFU
- GTC Area of Tianfu Int'l Airport
- Dining Level at T1, Tianfu Int'l Airport
- Terminal 1, International Departure Concourse
- Security Check Area at Terminal 2
Airlines and destinations
Tianfu International Airport is a major base for Air China. The flag carrier operates maintenance facilities, a 1,500-bed staff hostel, and a 2,950 m2 (31,800 sq ft) lounge at the airport.[12] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport did not operate international flights until 26 March 2023, taking over most international and cargo routes from Shuangliu International Airport, with the latter specializing in domestic flights.[15] Beginning from March 28th, 2023, Air China will change the flight to Taipei Taoyuan from Chengdu Shuangliu to Chengdu Tianfu.[16]
Passenger
Cargo
Ground transportation
Internal transportation
The two airport terminals will be connected by an Innovia automated people mover (APM) supplied by joint venture firm Puzhen Bombardier Transportation Systems Limited, which has also won the operations and maintenance contract.[29] To connect airport parking to the two terminal buildings there will be a personal rapid transit system, consisting of 6 miles (9.7 km) of guideway, 4 stations and 22 pods.[30]
External transportation
![](../I/Hall_of_Tianfu_International_Airport_Terminal_1%25262_Station%252C_Line_18%252C_Chengdu_Metro%252C_Version_from_end.jpg.webp)
High Way
Metro (Subway)
- Chengdu Metro Line 18 - Connection to Chengdu South railway station, opened since December 2020. Its extension work to Chengdu railway station is under construction. (Chengdu Metro Line 18 Service Hours: 5:55 am to 11:30 pm)
- Phase 2 of the Chengdu Metro Line 19, on partially shared tracks with Line 18, is expected to open at the end of 2023 to provide a 30-minute connection to the existing Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.Tianfu Airport T1&T2 Station
Bus
- Five bus routes are provided to connect Tianfu International Airport with central Chengdu, and passengers can take different buses to Chunxi Road (downtown), Chengdu East (Chengdu Dong) Railway Station, Global Center, Jinsha Transport Hub Station, and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, respectively.
- The Airport Bus service runs 24/7, and the fare for a single passenger ticket is ¥15 between 6:00 am to 23:30pm, and ¥25 from 23:30 pm to 6:00 am.
High-speed Train
- High-speed Rail connection as part of the Chengdu–Zigong high-speed railway connecting to Chengdu East railway station, Chengdu Tianfu railway station, Zigong, Ziyang and Neijaing. The high-speed rail is expected to open at the end of 2023.
Taxi
- Taxi and Car-hailing service from Tianfu Int'l Airport to city centre usually costs 150 to 250 Chinese Yuan (fees included).
Visa-exemption transit
144-hour Visa-free Transit
Holders of passports issued by 53 countries do not require a visa for a 144-hour stay if they are transiting through Chengdu Tianfu International Airport / Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport of entry, provided that they: [33][34]
- hold passports valid for at least 3 months from the date of intended arrival and visas for the destination countries (if required); and
- hold ticket receipts (with confirmed seats, if applicable) departing in 144 hours, which shows that their first destination (including stopovers of any kind) outside China is located in a third country. Hong Kong and Macau are considered as third territories for transit purposes.
![](../I/24-144-hour_Visa-free_Int'l_Transit_Counter.jpg.webp)
In order to qualify for the 144-hour visa-free transit, the traveler's inbound and outbound flights must directly arrive at and depart from one of the acceptable ports of entry from or to a third country (including one of the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macau). Both flights must have no stopovers of any kind within mainland China prior to arrival or after departure at the port of entry, and the outbound flight's first stop or destination must be in a different country than the inbound flight's. Travels between U.S. territories and the contiguous U.S. are also ineligible for the 144-hour TWOV, unless one of their flights has a stopover in a third country or a SAR.
A passenger who completed the inspection process will be given a temporary entry permit, which may be in the form of a stamp or a sticker, with the approved area of stay as well as date of entry and departure. [35]
Travelers utilizing the 144-hour visa-free transit scheme at Chengdu (both Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport) are authorized to travel within the region of 11 cities in Sichuan Province during the period, including Chengdu City, Leshan City, Deyang City, Suining City, Meishan City, Ya'an City, Ziyang City, Neijiang City, Zigong City, Luzhou City, and Yibin City.[36]
Eligible countries[37]
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- for British passport holders, only British citizens are eligible.
- Visa exemption in general
24-hour Visa-free Transit
Under the 24-hour Visa-exemption policy, visa is not required for travelers who:
- hold a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry;
- arrive by air, cruise ship or train (except for arriving at certain airports listed below);
- hold confirmed air, cruise ship or train tickets to a third-country final destination outside mainland China departing in 24 hours (standby tickets are not allowed); and,
- depart mainland China on a flight, cruise ship or train within 24 hours after arrival.
Most nationalities are eligible for the 24-hour Visa-exemption International Transit.
References
- "天府机场西一跑道亮灯". 凯风网. 2020-09-24.
- "成都天府国际机场完成盲降设备安装调试". 中国民航网. 2020-10-14. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
- 四川省人民政府 The People's Government of Sichuan Province. "成都天府国际机场正式开工 拟2020年投用".
- 四川省人民政府 The People's Government of Sichuan Province. "成都天府国际机场正式开工 拟2020年投用".
- 四川省人民政府 The People's Government of Sichuan Province. "成都天府国际机场正式开工 拟2020年投用".
- 四川省人民政府 The People's Government of Sichuan Province. "成都天府国际机场正式开工 拟2020年投用".
- "成都第二机场正式定名为成都天府国际机场_新浪四川_新浪网". sc.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
- 四川省人民政府 The People's Government of Sichuan Province. "成都天府国际机场正式开工 拟2020年投用".
- "New Chengdu Airport Begins Test Flights, Plans For June 30 Opening". Aviation Week. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- "Chengdu Tianfu International Airport completes test with passenger planes". Big News Network. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- "New airport opens to flights in China's Chengdu". 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- "Air China Finishes New Base at Chengdu Tianfu Airport". AirlineGeeks.com. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- "China's new Tianfu airport moves towards official opening". Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- "Blueprint of Chengdu New Airport Published". Go Chengdu. 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
- "国际航线全部平移至天府机场 全货机航线分阶段平移至天府机场 现有地区航线可保留在双流机场" [All international routes are shifted to Tianfu Airport. All cargo routes are shifted to Tianfu Airport in stages. Existing regional routes can be kept at Shuangliu Airport.]. e.chengdu.cn. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- Air China NS23 Chengdu – Taipei service changes
- "Air China to increase frequency from Beijing and Chengdu to Jakarta from Sep-2023". CAPA. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- "Hong Kong Airlines Resumes Chengdu Service From late-Sep 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- "Qatar Airways Resumes Chengdu / Chongqing Service From late-Sep 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- "Sichuan Airlines NW23 Chengdu – St. Petersburg Operations". AeroRoutes. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- "Sichuan Airlines Adds Chengdu – Sydney Service From late-Oct 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- "新航停飞成都往返本地航班 旅客不满被安排改飞上海". 8world (in Chinese (Singapore)). 2 August 2023.
- "增班 | 春秋航空增加飞往曼谷的航班,预计中泰每周航班量将达82班次". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- "ABC schedule in July". AirBridge Cargo. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- "www.aircargoworld.com/Air-Cargo-News/2012/01/airbridgecargo-commences-chengdu-route/124455". Archived from the original on 2013-02-06.
- "China Sichuan Airlines - Flight Status–3U9015 (TFU-DEL)". Sichuan Airlines. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- Ting Wei, Toh (23 April 2020). "CAG eyes air cargo amid plunge in passenger flights". The Straits Times.
... Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines has started flights from Changi this month.
- "UPS Launches Express Flights to Fast-Growing Chengdu". UPS. 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
- "Alstom's Chinese JV Wins Operation and Maintenance Contract for Airport APM". 14 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- "Chengdu Tianfu International Airport PRT System". ATRA Pulse. ATRA. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- "The main line of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Expressway was completed". Seetao. 2020-12-24. Archived from the original on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
- "The main line of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Expressway was completed". Seetao News. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- "成都恢复144小时过境免签政策". sc.people.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- "成都天府国际机场口岸正式对外开放-中国民航网". www.caacnews.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- "144小时过境免签政策解读". www.nia.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- "成都航空口岸外国人过境144小时免办签证政策停留区域扩大至11个市". gat.sc.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- "成都航空口岸外国人过境144小时免签停留范围政策答疑". gat.sc.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
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