Tibet Airlines, the first airline based in Tibet Autonomous Region, commenced flight operations on Tuesday morning in Lhasa.

The newly launched airline made its maiden flight on Tuesday from Gonggar Airport in Lhasa to Kunsha airport in Ngari Prefecture, said Xu Bo, chairman of Tibet Airlines.

In addition to the Lhasa-Ngari route, the airline will provide flight services from Lhasa to other cities in China, such as Chengdu and Chongqing, and it is expected to connect to all airports in Tibet, and eventually expand its connections to South Asian countries, Xu said.

Tibet Airlines was established in June 2010 with registered capital of 280 million yuan (US$43.42 million). Based at Gonggar Airport, it is the first airline in the world to be based on the high plateau that reaches an altitude of over 2,438 meters.

The airline received its first aircraft, an A319 from the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, on July 1. In five years, it is expected to have a fleet of 20.

Tibet already has airports in all of its seven cities and prefectures.

Photograph: Performers give a Tibetan dance performance beside an Airbus 319 plane of the Tibet Airlines which prepares to take off at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 26, 2011. The inaugural flight ceremony of Tibet Airlines, the first airline company based in Tibet, was held Tuesday in Lhasa Gonggar Airport. The maiden flight was bound for the Alikunsha Airport in Tibet's Ali Prefecture. (Xinhua/Chogo)