CRI听力: Tibet Airlines has ambitious plans for Europe

Tibet Airlines is only five months old but it is already claiming it will be operating direct flights to Europe within five years. What will it take to make it happen?

What impact will that make to the aviation industry in the region?

Our reporter Tingting takes a closer look.



Liu Yanping, general manager of Tibet airlines, believes that the routes to Europe will not only make flights cheaper and quicker, but boost the region's tourism industry.

"Now, if tourists from Europe come to Tibet, they need to transfer in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong or Nepal. Take Beijing for example. Travelers need to go an extra 5000 kilometers just to get to Lhasa. What a waste of money, time and energy! By opening direct routes to Europe, we can instantly get ride of that. "

Liu Yanping, who has worked in the civil aviation industry for 25 years, admits direct flights to and from Europe are still at the planning stage but he's confident they'll become reality.

He says as China makes Tibet a priority tourism destination, future policies to support that plan shouldn't be a problem.

But he admits that the real challenge is to guarantee the safety of flights as they fly at a high altitude.

"We are building a team of skilful pilots and maintenance staff, to make sure our Europe route flights are as safe as possible."

Tibet Airlines is the first carrier to be based in the autonomous region. Founded in March this year, its main aim is to connect the region's five existing airports and improve transportation throughout the vast region.

Six domestic airlines operate flights to Tibet from 16 cities. None, however, operates flights from one Tibetan spot to another or direct routes to Europe.

Tibet Airlines will make its maiden flight in August next year.

For CRI, I'm Tingting, in Lhasa.