Sansha Yongxing Airport

Sansha Yongxing Airport (Chinese: 三沙永兴机场) (IATA: XYI, ICAO: ZJYX), also known as Yongxing Island Airport, Woody Island Airport, is a civilian-military dual-use airport located on Yongxing (Woody) Island, the largest of the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.[2] Yongxing/Woody Island is occupied and administered by China (PRC) as the seat of Sansha city of Hainan Province. The airport was expanded in 1990 to increase the combat range of Chinese warplanes.[4] Further construction and reclamation of land commenced in 2012 to lengthen the airstrip. This work was completed in October 2014.[5]

Sansha Yongxing Airport
Woody and Rocky Islands in 2009.[1]
Summary
Airport typeCivilian, military
OperatorSansha Yongxing Airport Administration (HNA Infrastructure Investment Group)
PLA Air Force
ServesSansha, Hainan
LocationYongxing Island
(Woody Island)
Coordinates16°50′01″N 112°20′42″E
Map
XYI is located in South China Sea
XYI
XYI
Location of airport in the South China Sea
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 2,700 8,858 Asphalt/concrete
Statistics (2021)
Passengers36,405
Aircraft movements523
Cargo (metric tons)200.2
Source:[2][3]
Sansha Yongxing Airport
Simplified Chinese三沙永兴机场

Military drills with fighter aircraft landing and taking off at Yongxing Island Airport were carried out and telecast on CCTV in December 2017.[6]

Facilities

Yongxing Island Airport has a runway that is 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) long,[2] capable of handling any fourth generation fighter aircraft of the Chinese airforce such as the Sukhoi Su-30MK2. The airport has four hangars, a radar navigation station and four large fuel tanks, enabling it to serve as a forward deployment base for refueling warplanes on combat missions.[7] A two-storey 3,500 square metres (38,000 sq ft) terminal building with control tower is found on south side of the runway. It has a domestic arrival and departure areas. The terminal has three gates to handle civil airliners.

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Hainan Airlines Haikou

See also

References
  1. "Construction of airstrip completed on Yongxing Island (3)". Peoples Daily. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2018. Contains an aerial photo showong the reclaimed land between Woody and Rocky Islands and the expanded harbour.
  2. 专家建议造浮岛机场让战机作战半径覆盖南海 (in Chinese). Eastday. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  3. Airport information for ZJYX at Great Circle Mapper.
  4. Bernstein, Richard; Munro, Ross H. (1998). The Coming Conflict with China. Vintage Books. p. 74. ISBN 978-0679776628.
  5. "Construction of airstrip completed on Yongxing Island (pictures)". Peoples Daily. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  6. "China showcases jet fighters on South China Sea island". The Indian Express. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  7. Chang, Andrei (26 September 2008). "Analysis: China's air-sea buildup". Spacewar.com. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
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