WELCOM

AIRPORTS AND AIRLINES IN

NEPAL:PAST AND PRESENT STATUS

PRABESH

Glimpse of Nepal
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is
a landlocked country in South Asia.
It is bordered to the north by the China, and to the south, east, and west
by the India.
Nepal is divided into 14 administrative zones, which are divided into 75
districts. But Now
Nepal is divided into 7 States.
The country's only international airport, and the hub of all air service in
the country, is Tribhuvan International Airport, which serves the nation's
capital and the country's largest metropolitan city of Kathmandu.
Nepal has a large airport network, made up of a total of 48
airports

Map of Nepal

Airport and IATA

Airport :
Stationthat consist ofbuildingsand airfields used tohouseandprovide
runways for airplanes.
Navigationtowers are also present at airports to providepilotswith
direction when landing and taking off of runways.
Most airports also haveterminalsfor passengers toloadonto and
unload from airplanes.
Airports are usually built on theground, but there are also usable
airports present on boats as well as bodies of water.
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Private organizationpromotingcooperationamong the world'sscheduled
airlines to ensuresafe,secure, reliable, andeconomicalairservices.
Through IATA, local airlines have combined theirindividualticketing
andreservationnetworksinto
aglobalsystemthat
overcomes
differences incurrencies,customs, languages, andlaws.
Foundedin Hague in 1919 as International AirTrafficAssociation, it was
given thecurrentname in 1945 in Havana and now includes 280
airlines from 130countrieswhichhandleover 95percentof the world's
scheduled
air
traffic.

Number of Airports and Airlines in Nepal

SN
1

No of
Airports

Districts
coverage

No of Airlines

47

41

14

50

47

45
40
35
30
25
20

14

15
10
5
0
No of Airports

No of Airlines

Remar
ks

List of Airports in Nepal

SN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Location served
Baglung
Baitadi
Bajhang
Bajura
Bhadrapur / Chandragadhi
Siddharthanagar
Bharatpur
Bhojpur
Biratnagar
Tulsipur
Darchula
Dhangadhi
Dolpa
Dipayal
Gorkha
Janakpur
Jiri
Jomsom
Chandan Nath
Kamal Bazar
Kangel Danda
Kathmandu
Khanidanda
Khotang Bazar

District
Baglung
Baitadi
Bajhang
Bajura
Jhapa
Rupandehi
Chitwan
Bhojpur
Morang
Dang
Darchula
Kailali
Dolpa
Doti
Gorkha
Dhanusha
Dolakha
Mustang
Jumla
Accham
Solukhumbu
Kathmandu
Khotang
Khotang

Airport name
Balewa Airport
Patan Airport
Bajhang Airport
Bajura Airport
Bhadrapur Airport
Gautam Buddha Airport
Bharatpur Airport
Bhojpur Airport
Biratnagar Airport
Dang Airport
Gokuleshwor Airport
Dhangadhi Airport
Dolpa Airport
Silgadhi Airport
Palungtar Airport
Janakpur Airport
Jiri Airport
Jomsom Airport
Jumla Airport
Kamal Bazar Airport
Kangel Danda Airport
Tribhuvan International Airport
Man Maya Airport
Thamkharka Airport

Continue
SN
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Location served
Lamidanda
Langtang
Lukla
Bhim Datta
Manang
Meghauli
Nepalgunj
`Phaplu
Pokhara
Rajbiraj
Manthali

District
Khotang
Rasuwa
Solukhumbu
Kanchanpur
Manang
Chitwan
Banke
Solukhumbu
Kaski
Saptari
Ramechhap

Airport name
Lamidanda Airport
Langtang Airport
Tenzing-Hillary Airport
Bhim Datta Airport
Manang Airport
Meghauli Airport
Nepalgunj Airport
Phaplu Airport
Pokhara Airport
Rajbiraj Airport
Ramechhap Airport

36 Rara National Park

37 Rolpa
38 Rukumkot
39 Rumjatar

Mugu
Rolpa
Rukum

Talcha Airport
Rolpa Airport
Chaurjahari Airport

Okhladhunga

Rumjatar Airport

40
41
42
43

Sanphebagar
Simara
Simikot
Birendranagar

Accham
Bara
Humla
Surkhet

Sanphebagar Airport
Simara Airport
Simikot Airport
Surkhet Airport

44
45
46
47

Syangboche
Taplejung
Tikapur
Tumlingtar

Solukhumbu
Taplejung
Kailali
Sankhuwasabha

Syangboche Airport
Taplejung Airport
Tikapur Airport
Tumlingtar Airport

List of Airlines
SN

Airline

Sector

AOC Issued

Type

1 Air Kasthamandap

Domestic

2009

Helicoptor

2 Buddha Air

Domestic /International (suspended)

1997

Aeroplane

3 BB Airways

International (Suspended)

2012

4 Flying Dragon Airlines

2005

5 Goma Air

2011

6 Makalu Air

2009

7 Manang Air

Helicoptor

8 Nepal Airlines

Domestic /International

1958

Aeroplane

9 Saurya Airlines

Domestic

2014

Aeroplane

Domestic

1999

Helicoptor

2003

Defunct

10 Shree Airlines
11 Sita Air
12 Simrik Airlines

Domestic

2009

Aeroplane

13 Tara Air

Domestic

2009

Aeroplane

14 Yeti Airlines

Domestic

1998

Aeroplane

Types of Airports in Nepal

International Airport
Currently there is only one airport with international operations
arriving/departing from the country: Tribhuvan International Airport in
Kathmandu.
Regional Hub Airports
There are four airports considered as regional hubs, as they receive passengers
from Kathmandu and spread them to other smaller airports in the region where
they are sited.
These four regional airports : Biratnagar (serving mainly Eastern region),
Pokhara and Bhairahawa (Gautam Buddha) (Western region) and Nepalgunj
(Mid-Western and Far West regions).
Domestic Airports
The rest of airports (42) with scheduled flights are domestic.
In general they only have regular flights to a Regional airport, and sometimes it
is the only way of arriving to these areas because road access is not possible.
Within this group very different airports are considered. Some of them are
similar in infrastructures to regional airports, while others consist simply in a
kind of runway with very few or no more facilities to use.

Nepal Plane Crash History

Recently two planes have been crashed and 25

people have been killed in Nepal within a week.
Tara Air (Domestic Airline) crashed in Myagdi
district and killed 23 people.
Just after 2 days, pilot and co-pilot were killed in
another domestic air (Kasthamandap) crashed in
Kalikot and 9 passengers injured.
Nepal has a poor record on plane crash history as
around 45 plane has been crashed in Nepal and
around 1000 people has been killed till today.

History of Plane in Nepal Crash till date

Year (AD)

Airlines

Place

Dead

Number

1955

Kalinga

Simara

1956

Indian Airlines

Kathmandu

14

1958

Indian Airlines

Tikabhairab

20

1960

Nepal Airlines

Bhairahawa

1962

Nepal Airlines

Dhorpatan

10

1962

Nepal Airlines

Dhorpatan

1969

Nepal Airlines

Batase Dada

35

1970

Nepal Airlines

Delhi

1970

Royal Flight

Jomsom

1972

Royal Flight

Dhulikhel

31

1975

Nepal Airlines

Boudha, Kathmandu

1976

Nepal Airlines

Meghauli

1979

VVIP

Langtang

1981

Nepal Airlines

Biratnagar

10

1984

Nepal Airlines

Bhojpur

15

1985

Nepal Army

25

1992

Thai Airways

Rasuwa

113

1992

Pakistan Airways

Lalitpur

167

1995

Nepal Airlines

Kathmandu

1997

Karnali Air

Solukhumbu

1998

ATSC

Myagdi

18

1998

Asian Air

Solukhumbu

1998

Nepal Airlines

Solukhumbu

1999

Noken Air

Jumla

1999

Lufthansa Air

Kathmandu

2
1
2

Continue
Year (AD)

Airlines

Place

Dead

Number

2000

Nepal Airlines

Dhadheldhura

25

2001

Fishtail Air

Rara Lake

2002

Skyline Air

Surkhet

2002

Sangrila Air

Kaski

18

2004

Yeti Airlines

Lamjung

2005

Air Dynasty

Ramechhap

2006

Yeti Airlines

Jumla

2006

Yeti Airlines

Lukla

19

2010

Agni Air

Makawanpur

14

2010

Tara Air

Okhaldhunga

22

2011

Buddha Air

Lalitpur

19

2012

Agni Air

Jomsom

15

2012

Sita Air

Bhaktapur

19

2014

Nepal Airlines

Arghakhanchi

18

2015

US Army Helicopter

Dolakha

13

2015

Mountain Helicopters

Sindhupalchowk

2016

Tara Air

Myagdi

23

2016

Kasthamandap Air

Kalikot

2016

Fishtail Air Helicopter

Langtang

Total

764

2
2
1
2
1
2

3
46

Profile of aircrafts used in Nepal

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) was incorporated on 1 July 1958 through enactment of Nepal Airlines Corporation Act. 2019 with the
following main objective to provide air transport service to any person, agency or organization who need such service for transportation of
men or materials from one airport to another either within or outside the country.

Year

Airlines
Douglas DC-3 Dakota

1958

Fong Shu Harvester AN-2

1963 to 1965

Pilatus Porter PC-6

1961 to 1998

Fokker Friendship F-27

1966 to 1970

Hawker Siddley HS-748 Avro

1970

Twin Otter DHC-6

Details
28-seater Dakota, NACs very first aircraft,
The last of these planes flew into the sunset in 1973.
This 12-seater Chinese plane joined the fleet in 1963.
They flew on domestic route till 1965.
This single-engine air craft entered service in 1961, it seated six
persons.
The plane proved extremely suitable for Nepals mountainous terrain
NAC was flying one till 1998.
In operation from 1966 to 1970, it carried 44 passengers and flew to
NACs international destinations
Nepal Airlines obtained its first Avro in 1970.
The 44-seater planes were utilized on domestic and international sectors
The arrival of the Twin Otter was another turning point in the
Kingdoms aviation scenario.
Brought into service in 1971, this 19-seater Canadian plane was
instrumental in opening up the mountainous interior.
It could land and take off from small and rough airstrips.

Continue

1971

Boeing 727

1972 to 1993

Boeing 757

The nation became the proud possessor of a jet plane carrier

with the induction of a Boeing 727 in 1972.
Carrying 123 passengers, it connected Kathmandu with regional
destinations and remained in service till 1993.
The first of Nepal Airlines two 757s arrived in 1987.
Flying on long-haul routes and displaying the national flag at
world airports, they helped Nepal make its presence felt in the
international aviation scene. The 757 holds 190 passengers.

CURRENT SITUATION DIAGNOSIS

Traffic distribution by airports
The busiest airports in Nepal. Air traffic due to more number of flights
Preliminary information
In a country like Nepal, with its landscape and associated meteorology,
this implies a problem in terms of real operational time: most of
Nepali airports have frequently meteorological problems
associated with wind, clouds or rain which force the airport to close
for some hours or, even, some days.
Apart from these daily problems in operation, some airports of Nepal
must close during the complete monsoon season. They are said
to be seasonal, and the number of them is 20.
Currently only 14 of the total number of airports in the country
have a paved runway, while another 22 have grass surface and
the last two has it made of clay material.
Individual diagnosis

Example
BAJHANG
Location Region: Far Western
Zone: Seti
District: Bajhang
Elevation: 1250m/4100t
Use: Scheduled flights
AIRFIELD AND APRON
Runway
o Designation: 07/25
o Dimensions (m): 640 x 30
o Surface: Grass
o Turn Pad: Not available
Taxiway : No Data
Apron
There is an area where aircrafts can wait in front of the main building.
Navigation and landing aids
The airport provides Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) on VHF Frequency.
Markings and lighting
No Data
Rescue and Fire Fighting Service
No Data Fuelling facilities
Re-fuelling facilities
not available.
Passenger facilities: Terminal building
There is a terminal building for passengers to be processed. Reconstruction works of the building/control tower and
staff residences are being taken up, after they were damaged during the period of conflict.
Operating capacity and obstacles
It is a seasonal airport

Global diagnosis
most of the airports in the country have a short and unpaved
runway and a kind of taxiway to reach a surface where aircrafts can
stop and wait for the passengers.
This infrastructure can be enough for the traffic they serve, but they
need to be well maintained, which doesnt always occur.
Bigger airports in Nepal have also a parallel taxiway to release the
runway operation, but this happens only in some of them
(Nepalgunj, Pokhara, TIA and Biratnagar).
Only Tribhuvan International Airport has strip and RESA in its
runway, although they have not the required dimensions to comply
with ICAO Annex 14.
It has also been observed and reported that Terai airports have
some problems with the grass, because usually it is higher than
recommended.
It can be risky as some birds or animals can hide and enter the RWY
unexpectedly.
With regard to terminal buildings, most of the airports dont even
have a building for passengers to be processed, or there is not
information about it, and some of which do have it in very bad
conditions and with not many facilities to use.

Conclusion

Air transport in Nepal has a great importance for both foreign and local
people moving from one point to another within the country, due to the
lack of good infrastructure in terms of road transport.
The continually growing demand of these kinds of services shows the
importance this business has for the countrys economy.
It is essential that the airports infrastructure in the country respond to the
required demand, being able to operate all the traffic arriving and
departing and assuring safe and reliable operations.
Having had a look at the airports network, some issues have been found.
First of all, ICAO standards, and even recommendations, are not fulfilled by
any of the airports.
In fact, currently only Tribhuvan International Airport should comply with
them, as it is the unique international airport for the moment, but it
doesnt comply either.
If some more airports are thought to be opened to international traffic, as
it has been pointed, ICAO recommendations and standards should also be
applied.
For the rest of airports, some recommendations based on international
standards and procedures will be made to enhance their safety, taking
into account their own possibilities.
Thus, it will be tried to decrease aviation accident rate in Nepal.

Continue
In relation with terminal buildings, other facilities, some proposals will be made
so that Nepali airports have a minimum infrastructure and level of service, and
turn out comfortable for passengers to use.
A maintenance plan will also be considered, regarding to both airside and
landside of airports, to make the airports system able to remain in good
conditions for the future.
With regard to the airports operational capacity, some problems have been
noticed with meteorological circumstances, such as fog, wind or rain, in a lot of
airports.
Currently TIA is the most congested airport in Nepal, and it needs some
expansions.
There is a need of Master Plan on the table and Priority works are going to be
undertaken.
Specifically this airport will be studied in order to find the required facilities for
the expected demand.
Regarding to the network coverage, it has been observed that most populated
areas have an airport at a maximum of two hours distance by road.

Pictures
Lukla

THANK YOU
for patience