KATHMANDU: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will undergo a partial shutdown starting today, reducing operations by 10 hours daily for the next five months to facilitate major expansion and upgrades. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the airport will close from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM to complete several improvement projects. This includes constructing a parallel taxiway on the airport’s southwest side, expanding the northern international apron, and developing a hangar apron to the east.
The upgrade project, led by CAAN’s Aviation Capacity Enhancement Program, is expected to cost around NPR 15 billion (USD 113 million). Project Chief Dipendra Shrestha stated that the new taxiway will run parallel to TIA’s main runway, enhancing air traffic flow and safety. He emphasized that suspending flights during the designated hours ensures safety during the construction.
Currently, TIA operates from 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM, but the upgrade schedule will temporarily limit its operation hours. Nepal has three operational international airports: TIA, the recently inaugurated Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, and Pokhara International Airport. Established 74 years ago, TIA has undergone multiple expansions, with the last runway extension in 2020, reaching a length of 3,300 meters. That renovation also required a nightly 12-hour flight suspension over four months.
In 2018, the airport closed for 10 hours daily for almost four months for extensive runway repairs, which cut about 30% of domestic and international flights. Today, 19 domestic airlines, including 11 helicopter companies, and 30 international carriers operate flights from Kathmandu’s TIA. Annually, it handles over 300 daily domestic and about 100 international flights, serving as Nepal’s busiest aviation hub.