Nyingchi Airport, the third civil airport in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, has transported more than 50,000 passengers during the first year of its operation, according to airport sources.

A total of 380 flights have arrived at or taken off from the airport during the past year. No safety accident has been reported so far.

The airport currently employs 1,008 people.

The airport is one of the world's most difficult airports from which to take off and land due to unique geographical features and volatile climate conditions. Meteorological records show it could only have about 100 operational days a year.

The airport began operation when a Boeing 757 landed on Sept. 1last year after flying one and a half hours from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.

Built at a cost of 780 million yuan (103 million U.S. dollars),including investment by the General Administration of Civil Aviation, the airport is 2,949 meters above sea level, lower than the other two civil airports in Tibet, with a designed annual passenger flow of 120,000.

Nyingchi Prefecture, covering 117,000 square km and bordering India and Myanmar, is known for its humid and mild climate, charming scenery and rich natural resources.

About 120 km from the Nyingchi Airport is the Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon, the world's largest canyon.