Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu Valley will close for 10 hours daily over the next five months to facilitate significant upgrades and expansion work. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has implemented this closure from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. for flight safety during construction. Previously, TIA operated from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., accommodating around 100 international flights daily across 30 carriers.
The Rs 15 billion Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project will add a parallel taxiway and expand the hangar area, aiming to improve TIA’s overall capacity. However, reduced operating hours have led to higher ticket prices on international flights from Kathmandu, potentially impacting business and tourism in Nepal.
By – Sweta Singh (Kathmandu)