A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

At Shihezi Garden Airport, Han Jidong's "15 routes in 3 years" plan was just presented at an internal meeting.

Old Wang from the finance department was the first to slam his fist on the table and stand up, his gray hair almost standing on end: "President Han! The maiden voyage was a success, but that was achieved through subsidies."

Fifteen routes? You know how well-funded our airport is.

Taking such big steps, you're bound to tear your balls along the way.

"We haven't even paid off the loans from building the airport yet. If we suffer another round of losses, we'll all be starving."

The meeting room was completely silent.

Several mid-level managers looked down at the planning documents in their hands, none of them daring to speak.

Han Jidong took a sip of tea unhurriedly: "Section Chief Wang, accounts must be settled, but we can't just settle accounts in the present moment."

Xinjiang is so vast, yet without air transport, how many resources are trapped and die on the road?

If we don't do it, someone else will.

"Others can afford to lose money, but we can't!"

Old Wang wouldn't budge an inch. "Look at this plan, Kashgar, Hotan, Korla... and they're even going to open branches in Beijing and Shanghai?"

"Mr. Han, this is a regional airport, not Urumqi International Airport!"

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, the Civil Aviation Administration's approval document stalled.

The approval opinion clearly states: there are doubts about the carrying capacity of the Shihezi market, and supplementary passenger flow forecast data for the next three years is required; otherwise, the plan will not be approved.

Han Jidong was holding the document. Data?

Of course he knew he needed data, but where would the data come from if there were no flight routes?

This is a vicious cycle of chicken and egg.

To make matters worse, several surrounding farms experienced sudden outbreaks of COVID-19. Once lockdown measures were implemented, all the planned routes for collecting passenger and freight traffic data were disrupted.

Xiao Li, who was in charge of market research, reported with a long face: "President Han, our people can't get in, and the people inside can't get out. Data collection... has basically come to a standstill."

Just as Han Jidong was in a state of utter distress, external pressure surged in like a tidal wave.

First, a joint petition signed by fruit farmers from Kashgar and Hotan was delivered to the airport office. It was a thick stack of petitions covered with red handprints.

The letter was filled with anguish: due to the inconvenience of transportation, dried apricots and walnuts suffered losses of up to 30% on the way, and the fruit farmers worked hard all year, only to have most of them rot on the road.

Ali actually organized a "Hearing on Agricultural Product Transportation Demands," bringing more than 30 fruit farmer representatives to the city government building.

When the news reached Han Jidong's ears, he was staring blankly at the flight route map.

"Mr. Han, how about... we go and talk to the fruit farmers' representatives first?" Assistant Xiao Liu asked cautiously.

"Of course we need to talk!"

Han Jidong grabbed his coat and headed out. "They've already put it this way, can we just hide?"

At the hearing, old man Aili's words were simple yet sharp: "We know that air freight is expensive, but it's heartbreaking to see good things rotting on the road!"

Mr. Han, I cried the day you launched the new route. Why?

Because we saw hope!

But now that hope is hanging in the balance again…

Han Jidong's throat tightened. He wanted to say that he was working hard and that it would take time, but looking at those faces etched with wrinkles by the wind and sand, he swallowed all his official words.

Zhu Laichen, a well-known business tycoon in Shihezi, missed a million-dollar order due to a flight delay. He then joined forces with more than 20 other entrepreneurs to petition the municipal government.

This letter is much more incisive than the fruit farmers' petition, directly pointing out that the airport's inefficiency and limited flight routes are severely hindering local economic development.

"Shihezi enterprises go out and customers are invited in; each time it's like a journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures!"

Transfers, delays, cancellations... who will bear these losses?

The municipal government keeps talking about attracting investment, but they can't even guarantee basic transportation. What kind of business or investment can they attract?

The vice mayor personally called Han Jidong, his tone gentle but his words heavy: "Jidong, the city takes the opinions of entrepreneurs very seriously."

Adding new direct routes is definitely something we should be considering as soon as possible…

Internally, there are old-school forces like Lao Wang hindering them; externally, there are the rigid rules and regulations of the approval departments; below, there are the urgent demands of fruit farmers and merchants; above, there is the pressure and expectation from the government. And the most critical data is nowhere to be collected due to the pandemic.

"Mr. Han, there's a chance!" Xiao Liu suddenly pushed the door open and came in, his face full of excitement.

"What turning point?"

"The epidemic command center agreed that we can collect basic transportation data for the locked-down areas through them. Although we cannot conduct door-to-door surveys directly, we can retrieve historical data such as passenger and freight traffic over the years."

Han Jidong's eyes lit up: "Great! With historical data, we can at least build a predictive model!"

"but……"

Xiao Liu hesitated for a moment, "I heard that Section Chief Wang has already contacted several former leaders, preparing to jointly oppose our plan..."

Han Jidong rubbed his temples. Just then, his phone rang; it was Old Man Aili calling.

"Mr. Han, am I disturbing you?"

What I'm trying to say is that we fruit farmers have discussed it, and if the airport really opens a dedicated cargo line, we are willing to prepay three months' worth of freight.

If everyone chips in, we can raise some money...

Han Jidong felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his eyes even started to sting.

"Uncle Aili, I appreciate your kindness."

"The flight route will definitely open. I, Han Jidong, keep my word."

Just as he hung up, Zhu Laichen called, his tone more gentle than he had expected: "President Han, I know you're facing difficulties."

But business waits for no one.

In this way, our Entrepreneurs Association can assist in conducting demand surveys for business travel; we have some of the data…”

After hanging up the phone, Han Jidong suddenly laughed. Xiao Liu looked at him in confusion.

"Did you see that? Opposition, hesitation, pressure, pleas for help..."

On the surface, all parties are tug-of-war, but in reality, everyone is pointing in the same direction—we need more flight routes.

Han Jidong walked to the route planning map, pointed out the route from Shihezi and drew in all directions, "Old Wang is afraid of losses, that's a fact; the bureau needs data, that's procedure; fruit farmers need to transport goods to survive; entrepreneurs need efficiency for development..."

No one is wrong, they're just in different positions.

He turned to look at Xiao Liu: "Notify all departments that there will be a meeting tomorrow morning."

We need to put all the historical data, farmers' willingness to make advance payments, corporate research and support, and... the loss risk mitigation plans that Old Wang is worried about, on the table.

"What about the Civil Aviation Administration...?"

"Data collection cannot stop, and the model must be developed as quickly as possible. Meanwhile..."

A sharp glint flashed in Han Jidong's eyes. "We should take the initiative to invite the leaders of the bureau to come and see for themselves how the dried apricots in the hands of the fruit farmers are rotting, and listen to the stories of entrepreneurs who have missed out on orders."

Some things can't be understood just by reading reports.

At the meeting the next day, Lao Wang still had a stern face, but when he heard that the fruit farmers were willing to prepay the freight, he raised an eyebrow; when he heard that the entrepreneurs were willing to assist with the research, he snorted softly, but did not directly object again.

Han Jidong concluded by saying, "I know that fifteen routes sound like a pipe dream."

But let's do the math: the dedicated freight lines for agricultural products from Kashgar and Hotan address people's livelihood issues;

Direct business flights to Nanjing and Dalian boost the economy; coupled with the Xinjiang tourism loop...

Which of these isn't a real need?

There are risks, but if we dare not take off, what's the point of building an airport? Is it just for show?

Old Wang finally spoke, his voice lower: "President Han, I'm not against development, I'm just afraid that if we take too big a step, we'll stumble."

Since you have made these preparations...

As for the finance department, I'll redo the calculations.

However, there is one condition: if the first three routes incur losses for six consecutive months, subsequent plans must be suspended.

"Deal." Han Jidong held out his hand.

Old Wang hesitated for a moment, then grasped it.