Kathmandu, November 8
Beginning today, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will remain closed for 10 hours daily over the next five months.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the closure is part of an airport upgrade project. The Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project will involve expanding the southwest taxiway, the international apron (northward), and the hangar apron (eastward), with an estimated budget of Rs 15 billion.
During this period, TIA will suspend all flights from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am. Its regular operating hours, typically from 6:00 am to 2:00 am, will be impacted.
Project Chief Dipendra Shrestha stated that the taxiway will be expanded to run parallel to the runway, ensuring safer and more efficient operations. He noted that the closure is essential for safety reasons.
Nepal currently has three international airports: Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini, and Pokhara International Airport. The latter two began operations more recently, while TIA has served as Nepal’s primary airport for nearly 74 years.
In 2077 BS, TIA’s runway was extended to 3,300 meters, with a 12-hour daily closure for construction. Similarly, in 2075 BS, the runway was resurfaced, requiring a 10-hour daily closure for approximately four months, impacting around 30% of flights.
TIA handles over 200 domestic and around 100 international flights daily. The current upgrades aim to enhance its capacity and safety standards.
