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Kunming Airport
The airport is among the oldest airports in China, with a history that can be traced back over 100 years to the early 1900s, when Wujiaba Airport was first built under the supervision of local warlord, General Tang Jiyao.
The "Flying Tigers", headquartered at Wujiaba Airport.
During World War II, the airport was expanded to accommodate the operations of the legendary "Flying Tigers", the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force, led by United States Air Force Lieutenant - and later General - Claire Lee Chennault in 1941 and 1942. After the United States formally entered the war in 1942, Wujiaba Airport was the headquarters of numerous United States Army Air Force units, including the headquarters of the Fourteenth and Tenth Air Forces.
The USAAF Air Transport Command (ATC) established a major air transport facility at the airport, which connected flights west to Chabua Airfield, India, with other routes within China Jiangbei Airport (Chunking); Chenstu Air Base, and Banmaw Airport (Bhamo, Burma). After the war ended in 1945, a 1,390 mile (2,224 kilometer) route east to Clark Air Base in the Philippines was established. The route to Clark AB established a complete worldwide transport route for ATC.
By the end of 2007, the annual passenger flow at Kunming Wujiaba International Airport has reached a new record high of 15,725,791, making the airport the 7th busiest in China. In terms of cargo traffic, the airport was the 7th busiest airport in 2007. Kunming airport was also the 8th busiest airport by traffic movements.
Due to the fast expansion of the metropolitan area and limited land availability, the growth of Kunming Wujiaba International Airport is likely to face major constraints in the near future. The local government and airport authority have decided to move all operations to a new airport site, which is being planned, within five years.
