TIA to remain closed 10 hrs a day for 5 months

KATHMANDU: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu will remain closed for 10 hours a day for the next five months, starting today.

The closure is part of an airport upgrade project, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project includes widening the southwest taxiway, the international apron (to the north), and the hangar apron (to the east). The total estimated cost of these upgrades is Rs 15 billion.

During the closure period, from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am, no flights will operate. The airport’s usual hours of operation, from 6:00 am to 2:00 am, will be affected.

Project Chief Dipendra Shrestha stated that the taxiway will be expanded to run parallel to the airport's runway. The closure is necessary for safety reasons, he added.

Nepal currently has three international airports: TIA, Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Lumbini, and Pokhara Regional International Airport.

Previously, in 2077 BS, TIA's runway was expanded to 3,300 metres, with the airport closed for 12 hours a day during that period. Similarly, in 2075 BS, the runway was fully resurfaced with tarmac, requiring a 10-hour daily suspension of flights for about four months. Approximately 30% of domestic and international flights were suspended during those closures.

TIA handles over 200 domestic flights and around 100 international flights daily, and the ongoing upgrades aim to enhance its capacity and safety standards further.

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