Chengdu to Lhasa Flights
Chengdu is the main gateway to Tibet. It has more flights to Lhasa than any other city, plus flights to Nyingchi, Shigatse and Chamdo. In the busy season there are flights from early morning to late afternoon, so Chengdu is the easiest and often the cheapest place to start your trip.
Chengdu to Lhasa at a Glance
| Flight time | about 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Airlines | Air China, Sichuan Airlines, Tibet Airlines and others |
| Flights | usually more than ten a day in the busy season, fewer in winter |
| Chengdu airports | Shuangliu (CTU) and Tianfu (TFU) — check which one your flight uses |
| Arrival | Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) |
Why Fly from Chengdu?
- The most flights. Chengdu has the widest choice of flights to Lhasa, so it is easy to find a good time and a fair price.
- A short flight. About two hours, much shorter than from Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.
- Good international connections. Chengdu has direct flights to many cities in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
- Connected to all of China. There are frequent flights and fast trains to Chengdu from every major Chinese city.
Flight Times
Most flights from Chengdu to Lhasa leave in the morning, from about 6 am to noon, with a few in the afternoon. Flights back from Lhasa leave from late morning to evening. We recommend an early flight to Lhasa, so you have the whole afternoon to rest and get used to the altitude.
Please note: airlines change their Tibet schedules every season and fly less in winter (November to March). We check the current flights when we plan your trip.
About Chengdu’s Airports
Chengdu has two international airports. Shuangliu (CTU) is about 16 km southwest of the city centre and is connected by metro. Tianfu (TFU) is newer and about 50 km southeast of the city, with a metro and high-speed rail connection. Flights to Lhasa leave from both, so check your ticket carefully, and allow plenty of time if you transfer between them.
About Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA)
Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is the main airport in Tibet. It lies about 60 km southwest of Lhasa at 3,570 m, one of the highest airports in the world. The drive to the city takes about an hour on the expressway. If you travel with us, your guide meets you at the airport with a khata scarf and drives you to your hotel.
We answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.