Sansha Yongxing Airport

Sansha Yongxing Airport

三沙永兴机场
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
Coordinates16°50′01″N 112°20′42″E / 16.83361°N 112.34500°E / 16.83361; 112.34500
Map
XYI is located in South China Sea
XYI
XYI
Location of airport in the South China Sea
Map
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
Traditional Chinese三沙永興機場
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSānshā Yǒngxīng Jīchǎng

Sansha Yongxing Airport (IATA: XYI, ICAO: ZJYX) is a civilian-military dual-use airport located on Yongxing 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]

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

  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. ^ a b 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.