Built at a cost of 780 million yuan (96.18 million U.S. dollars), including investment by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the airport is 2,949 meters above sea level, lower than the other two civil airports, with a designed annual passenger flow of 120,000.

[4] Known as one of the world's most difficult airports for aircraft to reach, Nyingchi Airport is situated in the valley of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Southeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, surrounded by over-4,000-metre-high (13,000 ft) mountains enveloped by clouds and fog throughout the year.

The narrowest flight path is less than 4 km from one mountain ridge along the valley to the opposite one.

According to meteorological data, there are just 100 days overall with suitable weather to operate to the airport each year.

[5] The first landing of a commercial aircraft was made by an Air China Boeing 757 without passengers on July 12, 2006.