Hulunbuir Hailar International Airport HLD / ZBLA

Renamed from 'Hulunbuir Hailar Airport' to 'Hulunbuir Hailar International Airport' by CAAC approval in 2025, formalizing already-existing cross-border status rather than a new international build-out: the airport first opened a scheduled international route to Chita, Russia in 1996 (having briefly held Beijing-Chita and Chita-Pyongyang stopover service in the 1950s before the port closed in 1959 and reopened in 1988). The 2025/26 winter-spring schedule lists 16 carriers on 34 routes to 30 cities, including international/regional service to Chita (Air China), Hong Kong (Hong Kong Airlines), Ulaanbaatar, and Seoul Incheon (t'way Air). CAAC's 2025 annual bulletin recorded 3,239,067 passengers (+0.3% YoY) — nearly flat after 2024's 2,912,502-to-3,227,793 jump (+10.8%), when the airport ranked 57th nationally by passenger volume; the near-zero 2025 growth suggests a slightly lower national rank, though the exact 2025 figure was not independently confirmed. Sits on the Hulunbuir grassland in a severe continental climate zone where winter minimums well below -30C are routine, so airlines should plan for heavy de-icing/anti-icing demand and possible weather disruption November-March. Single runway 09/27 (2,800 m concrete, 45 m wide with 7.5 m shoulders each side, 36 cm pavement) carries a published ILS/DME approach only for RWY 27; RWY 09 is non-precision, so westbound arrivals in low visibility may need to circle or divert. A 2022-vintage master plan targets a 400 m eastward runway extension to 3,200 m plus a new domestic terminal by 2035, but as of 2026-09-02 the runway remains 2,800 m with no extension or second runway built. No dedicated airport website was located; verify contact details directly with Inner Mongolia Civil Aviation Airport Group's Hulunbuir branch.