Timeline based on a year-old tender for construction works, says CAAN
KATHMANDU, Oct 29: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally raised concern about the reduced operating hours of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), warning of significant implications for airlines and passengers alike. Starting November 8, the airport will close nightly from 10 pm to 8 am for essential runway construction, limiting its operational hours to just 14 from 21 per day. The IATA has called on the country’s civil aviation regulatory body to reconsider the current closure period plan.
The IATA, which is a trade association of the world’s airlines, representing some 330 airlines and around 80 percent global air traffic, has written to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), stating that the reduction in the operating hours of TIA is already causing airlines to cancel flights at short notice. According to the association, this has inconvenienced passengers who have booked tickets up to a year in advance. The IATA has also noted that there is no proportional reduction in established schedules as some airlines reportedly received schedule approvals during the affected period, while others have not.
The IATA’s request to CAAN to reconsider its decision to close down the airport from 10 pm to 8 am daily till March 31, 2025 comes amid tourism professionals experiencing serious concerns that the night-time closure is expected to trigger peak season chaos. The influx of tourists in Nepal peaks from mid-August to mid-December.
Flights expected to be disrupted for two hours due to calibrati...
The IATA’s concerns extend beyond mere inconvenience for passengers. Airlines have reported that adjusting flight schedules to accommodate the new operating hours poses significant challenges. The IATA’s request to CAAN to conduct a detailed analysis of airport demand and capacity during the maintenance period underscores the urgency of addressing these operational hurdles.
The runway work, which is expected to last until March 31, 2025, is part of a broader initiative to upgrade the TIA. However, the timing has raised alarms among industry stakeholders. Airline operators are anticipating a reduction of 30 to 50 percent in international flights during the construction phase, complicating travel plans for many passengers and potentially leading to increased airfares due to reduced seat availability.
However, CAAN officials have maintained that they had to take a decision to reduce the operating hours for the construction and maintenance of the runway, without the intention of coinciding the works with the arrival of the tourist season. Although the TIA office announced that the airport will remain closed due to necessary runway expansion, tourism professionals fear that the closure is likely to significantly affect the tourist arrival.
“The IATA’s letter serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in ticketing and scheduling, but they do not have the right to dictate our operational hours,” information officer at CAAN, Gyanendra Bhul, told Republica. He acknowledged the operational changes inevitably mean some flights will be compromised.
Bhul said that the timing of the runway construction was a carefully considered decision. “The tender for this work was called a year ago. Starting construction before November or after April would negatively impact both the summer and winter tourism seasons. This timing was chosen to minimize disruption as much as possible,” he said.
The IATA has made several recommendations including conducting a comprehensive demand and capacity assessment, evaluating the need for a temporary level change and engaging airlines in consultation to mitigate the negative impacts on passengers, airlines and Nepal’s connectivity. The global airlines’ body has also urged CAAN to implement Worldwide Airport Slot Board (WASB) Industry Guidance, aligning the schedule reductions with this industry guidance.
Additionally, the IATA has urged CAAN to consider adjusting closure hours, reducing the daily closure period by two hours and avoiding closure on the busiest days of the week. “While this approach may extend the overall maintenance period, it would reduce the impact by aligning closures with the quietest hours and days,” an IATA statement reads.
Likewise, tour operators and aviation experts have echoed the IATA’s concerns. Many believe that the construction could severely impact the airline industry's ability to serve both domestic and international travelers effectively. The timing of this construction could not be worse,” said Dinesh Humagain of Sea Links Travels and Tours Pvt Ltd, “As we enter the peak tourist season, limiting flight operations will undoubtedly create a bottleneck. Tourists may face significant delays or cancellations.” He said that the timing of this construction could tarnish Nepal’s reputation as a travel destination and deter future visitors.
