Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU)

The Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the major airport serving Chengdu, which is the capital city of the Sichuan Province in China. The airport got its name from the county where it is located, Shuangliu County, which is about 16 kilometers or 10 miles southwest of the city center.

The Shangliu International Airport is the main hub for Chengdu Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Air China. The airport is currently the 6th busiest airport in China Mainland and the 51st busiest in the world. It is also the 6th busiest airport in China in terms of both cargo traffic and traffic movements. It is also hailed as the largest aviation hub in the central and western parts of China.

• Company name: Sichuan Province Airport Group Co., Ltd.
• Airport code: CTU
• Website: http://www.cdairport.com
• Consumer complaint phone no.: 85205678
• Ticket booking phone no.: 028-85205518/028-85205522
• Airport inquiry: 028-85205333

As an international civil airport, the Shuangliu Airport serves more than 20 international destinations and up to 70 domestic destinations. Flights going to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, however, are considered international flights in CTU.

Aside from the regular international and domestic routes, short frequent flights to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, and to Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, are also available. The airport also offers two-hour flights to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Travelers can also easily fly from the airport to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Spot via a 40-minute flight. These are some of the popular and unique flights offered by the Shuangliu Airport.

Airlines that operate from the CTU include:

Air China, Air Macau, AirAsia X, All Nippon, Asiana Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Express Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China United Airlines, Dragonair, EVA Air, Etihad Airways, Far Eastern Air Transport, Hebei Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, KLM, Kunming Airlines, Lucky Air, Mega Maldives, Okay Airways, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Silk Air, Spring Airlines, Thai Airways International, Tibet Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Xiamen Airlines.

Transportation to/from the City

The Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is connected to downtown Chengdu by a convenient expressway that makes moving between the two locations very convenient. The main forms of transportation between the airport and the downtown area include:

Shuttle Bus

Regular shuttle buses move between the airport and the Chengdu airport for the convenience of departing and arriving passengers. Passengers can choose from the following bus lines depending on the route most applicable to them.

1. Bus No.300

Route: Chengdu North Railway Station – Chengdu Airport

Where to Wait: Parking lots to the south of Terminal 1

Operating Times: 6:30-22:00

2. Bus No.303 (25 to 30 minutes)

Route: Minshan Hotel – Chengdu Airport (runs non-stop from downtown to the airport)

Stops: US Consulates Renmin South Road – Huaxi Dam – Minshan Hotel

Where to Wait: No. 2 Exit on the 1st floor of Terminal 1

Operating Times: 6:00-22:00

3. Bus No.304

Route: Chengren Bus Station – Chengdu Airport

Where to Wait: Airport Road No. 3

Operating Times: 6:30-19:30

4. Bus No.317

Route: Chengdu East Railway Station – Chengdu Airport (runs non-stop from downtown to the airport

Stops: South Railway Station (East) – South Gate of Sichuan Normal University –East Railway Station

Operating Times: 7:00-19:00

5. Bus No.318

Route: Jinsha Bus Station – Chengdu Airport

Where to Wait: Airport Road No. 3

Operating Times: 7:00-19:00

If you want to save money, you can also get to the airport from downtown by taking bus 16 or 99 going to the south train station, and transferring to bus 404 from there.

Long-Distance Bus

Those traveling to major cities within the Sichuan Province from the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport can also take long-distance buses. These travel to the following destinations. Please refer to the table as well for the trip schedules and fares.

Passengers can board the buses at the 200m spot south of the airport Terminal 1. Bus tickets are pre-sell 3 days in advance to certain destinations.

Taxi Service

The fastest way to get downtown from the Chengdu International Airport is by taking a taxi from the airport to downtown or any Chengdu Railway Station. A trip going to the city center should cost around CNY 60 to 80; however, some drivers may not charge by the meter so be sure to negotiate a reasonable price with the driver before starting the trip. The trip usually takes just 15 to 25 minutes.

For those traveling to the railway stations, here is a fare table for your reference:

Regular taxi rates by the meter are 5 yuan for the first 1 kilometer and 1.4 yuan for every additional kilometer. If the distance traveled exceeds 7 kilometers, a return charge amounting to 50% is added to the total fare.

Minibus

Some airlines offer free minibus services to some of their passengers. Check if the airline of your choice offers such services.

Express Train

There are also express train services that travel between Chengdu and Haikou. This railway service makes it easy for travelers to move between Hainan Province and South China. Trains depart from Haikou at 18:40 while the train from Chengdu departs from the East Railway Station at 18:01.