Fifteen civil airports will be completed or under construction in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region five years from now, Zhang Jun, secretary of the Party committee and chairman of Xinjiang Airport Group announced.

The number of Xinjiang civil airports grew to 22 over the last five years. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) will bring the total in Xinjiang to 37.

Xinjiang will accelerate the reconstruction and extension of Kashgar and Turpan airports this year, and start construction of Zhaosu and Tashikurgan airports. Airports in Qitai, Bayanbulak, Barkol, Wusu, Hoboksar are also expected to begin construction by the end of this year. Construction of Aheqi, Baicheng, Qinggil and Jeminay airports is included in the national civil airport layout plan and in the Civil Aviation Administration of China's 14th Five-Year Plan.

In addition to airport construction, Xinjiang is also promoting air routes to attract more tourists.

Tang Ziye contributed to the story.