Founded in 1934, Baotou Donghe Airport was originally called Baotou Erliban Airport. At the time the airport only had the capacity for four aircraft, with a maximum runway speed limit of 165 kilometers per hour.

The airport was renamed Baotou Donghe Airport on March 20, 2018.

It has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years. In 2006, the flight zone was upgraded from category 4C to 4D, and the runway was extended to 2,800 meters, allowing it to handle aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Boeing 767.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) period, with the rapid development of the civil aviation industry, passenger throughput increased from 378,000 in 2005 to 1,332,100 in 2010, an average annual increase of 19.1 percent. The number of passengers exceeded 1 million for the first time in 2009.

The airport currently offers flights to 23 destinations operated by 13 airlines, linking it with 26 cities in China and abroad. It is currently the 50th busiest airport among China’s 190 civil airports.

Aircraft are parked at Baotou Donghe Airport, Feb 20. [Photo/nmgnews.com.cn]

Create Dream, the world’s first and only aircraft that features Chinese screen painting, incorporating traditional Mongolian elements, is pictured at Baotou Donghe Airport, Nov 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]