LHASA - A total of 120 air routes are now operating in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, since the latest route linking Lhasa with Hongyuan and Mianyang in the region's neighboring province of Sichuan opened, local authorities said.

Since July, airlines have increased their routes and flights to and from Tibet, which has brought more tourists to the region and stimulated the local economy, according to the Tibet branch of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Lhasa's airport has strengthened communication and coordination with airlines and improved its flight support capability by analyzing its operation during peak hours, with epidemic control and prevention methods ensured.

In August, Tibet handled 5,450 civil aviation flights, 615,000 passengers and 5,261.5 tons of cargo, representing a year-on-year increase of 9 percent, 4.1 percent and 22.4 percent, respectively.

Currently, Tibet has five airports throughout the region and links with 60 cities across China by air.