LHASA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Air China's flight 4401 landed Tuesday at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, marking the annual passenger throughput of Tibet's civil aviation exceeding 5 million, according to local authorities.

"This is a milestone in Tibet's civil aviation history, which reflects the importance of the region's economic and social development," said Paldron, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China Tibet office.

Currently, Tibet has 10 airlines operating a total of 88 routes, enabling convenient connections between Tibet and most major cities in China.

Opened in 1965, Gonggar Airport is the largest airport in Tibet. It is expected to handle 9 million passenger trips annually by 2025.