Xianyang (Weicheng) to Ürümqi (XIY–URC) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
XIY–URC is served by 8 airlines with nonstop service. China Southern Airlines, Grant Aviation and China Eastern Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 1,308 miles in approximately 3h 40m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CZ China Southern Airlines Also: 3U | 35 | 738 | 3h25-5h44 | – | SkyTeam | 3U |
| GS Grant Aviation | 21 | 320 | 3h05-5h27 | – | – | – |
| MU China Eastern Airlines Also: 3U | 21 | 321, 332, 738 | 3h25-5h13 | – | SkyTeam | 3U |
| HU Hainan Airlines | 14 | 32Q, 789 | 3h40-3h50 | – | – | – |
| 9C Spring Airlines | 7 | 321 | 3h50 | – | – | – |
| 9H Air Changan | 7 | 738 | 3h55 | – | – | – |
| BK Potomac Air | 7 | 73W | 3h25 | – | – | – |
| RY Jiangxi Air Also: MF | 7 | 738 | 5h11 | – | – | MF |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Ürümqi from Xianyang (Weicheng)
| Metric | XIY→URC | IQN→URC | HZG→URC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from XIY | – | 114 mi | 127 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 158 | 4 | 3 |
| Flight time | 3h 40m | 3h 20m | 3h 20m |
Travel Essentials
XIY: CST · URC: +06
When it's 6:00 PM in Xianyang (Weicheng), it's 4:00 PM in Ürümqi.
Xi'an Metro Line 14 opened in 2024 and connects Xi'an North (high-speed rail station) to T5 at Xianyang Airport in 30–35 minutes (¥6). This replaced the previous airport shuttle bus as the default transit option for most travelers. Line 14 also connects to Xi'an central via transfers at Xi'an North.Airport shuttle buses still serve the city centre and Bell Tower area (¥30, 50–70 min). Taxis from Xi'an Zhonglou (Bell Tower area) cost ¥80–120 and take 40–60 minutes on the G30 expressway. DiDi is widely used. The airport is 47 km northwest of the city centre.
Airport shuttle buses depart from outside arrivals to the city centre for CNY 20–30 and take 30–40 minutes. Taxis and DiDi queue outside the terminal; fares to downtown are CNY 40–70. The terminal has a taxi dispatch system; queue at the designated stand rather than accepting offers from touts.Ürümqi is a domestic hub for flights across Xinjiang; connections to Kashgar (KHG), Hotan (HTN), and other regional cities are frequent. Rental cars are available, but international driving permits may be required; verify current regulations before booking.
Semi-arid continental climate with extreme seasonal variation. Winters (November–March) are severe and prolonged at −15 to −5°C with heavy snowfall, ice, and persistent cold that regularly causes de-icing delays and ground stops. Ürümqi is one of the most continentally extreme climates of any major airport in the world.
Summers (June–August) are hot and dry at 28–36°C with low humidity and excellent visibility. Spring sandstorms can reduce airport visibility significantly. Autumn is brief. Pack serious cold-weather gear for winter travel. Temperatures occasionally drop below −25°C.
XIY–URC Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Xi'an to Urumqi: Gateway to China's Western Frontier
XIY-URC reverses the ancient Silk Road, carrying passengers from the historic terminus in Xi'an to the capital of Xinjiang. The 2,380 km sector takes about 3 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours westbound. China Southern leads with 3 to 5 daily nonstops. Hainan Airlines and Tianjin Airlines add supplementary frequencies. The route crosses the Hexi Corridor and the eastern Tian Shan range. It carries government workers, energy industry personnel, military staff, and tourists. Xi'an is the closest major city in central China to Xinjiang, making this one of the primary air links between the western region and the interior.
Connecting Patterns and Hub Value
Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) has grown into one of China's more important mid-network hubs. For passengers heading to Urumqi and beyond, XIY collects traffic from central and southern Chinese cities. From Urumqi, China Southern's connecting bank fans out to smaller cities across Xinjiang and to international destinations in Central Asia. The XIY-URC route feeds both of these hub operations. Rail competition exists but is slow. The Lanzhou-Xinjiang high-speed line brings travel time down to about 14 hours with a transfer in Lanzhou, but that is still impractical for most time-sensitive travelers. Flying remains the default for the Xi'an-Urumqi corridor.