Press Release: Xi’an Announced As Host Destination For Routes Asia 2026

Xi’an, China, will host the 22nd edition of Routes Asia, the only air service development event dedicated to advancing air service development across Asia Pacific. The official announcement was made in Xi’an on 7th  January 2025. The 2026 event will be hosted by China West Airport Group.

As the capital of Shaanxi province, Xi’an was the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road and continues to be an important transport hub for Northern China. Home to six UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites, including the Terracotta Army, Xi’an is widely recognized for its rich cultural heritage and historical importance. Serving one of the world's most populous regions,  Xi’an Xianyang International Airport handled more than 47 million passengers in 2019, ranking 7th in China and 40th in the world. The passenger throughput of 2024 has returning to the pre-epidemic level which has reached 47.03 million.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, China’s travel and tourism sector is expected to contribute $11.1 trillion to the country’s GDP in 2024, a 10% increase from 2023. By 2034, this figure is projected to rise to $16 trillion, further emphasizing the sector’s growing importance.

Steven Small, director of Routes, said: “Routes Asia will attract even more international tourists to Xi’an, and promote trade and investment development. The event will comprehensively strengthen  the airport’s existing network in Southeast and North Asia, while also further expand the route network in Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe."

Small added: “Independent analysis shows that previous host airports have seen their networks grow by 5.7% more than comparable airports within three years. With decision-makers from over 100 of the region’s leading and fastest-growing airlines expected to attend Routes Asia 2026, the event offers a unique development opportunity for Xi’an to highlight the significant infrastructure construction and investment operations to the people that decide where the region’s aircraft fly.”

The leaders of the Xi’an government said: “Xi’an is an ancient capital city of thousands of years, and it is the capital city with the most dynasties, the longest time and the greatest influence in Chinese history. Xi'an is also the national central city targeted by the Chinese government, the comprehensive national science center, the scientific and technological innovation center, the national important scientific research and cultural education center, and the high-tech industry and manufacturing base. I believe that Xi’an's long history and culture, rich tourism resources, significant opening advantages, and abundant scientific and creative resources will definitely make the Routes Asia more exciting!”

Yang Ou, chairman of China West Airport Group, said: “China West Airport Group is the second largest large-scale airport management group operating across provinces in China, and currently operate 18 airports in Shaanxi, Ningxia and Qinghai provinces. Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, the core of the China West Airport Group, is one of the top ten international aviation hubs in China, and it is also a complex international aviation hub airport determined by the state to face Central and Eastern Europe, Central and Western Asia and radiate the "the Belt and Road". In December last year, the main construction of the Xi’an airport third expansion project were successfully put into operation. This year, the rest of the construction projects of the third phase of Xi’an Airport will be gradually put into use, which will fully enter a new stage of three-runway operation and achieve a new leap of four-runway operation. In the future, it will be able to meet the security needs of 83 million passengers and 1 million tons of cargo per year. Taking advantage of the cooperation opportunity of the Routes Asia, China West Airport Group is willing to work with domestic and foreign airlines and civil aviation colleagues to jointly set up the Air Silk Road of the new era.”