KATHMANDU, Oct 25: The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is said to remain closed for 10 hours due to the extension work of the runway despite the peak time of tourist influx.
The TIA is set to be closed from November 8 due to the construction of the runway, coinciding with the arrival of tourist season. The influx of tourists in Nepal peaks from Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) to Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December). The TIA will be closed for 10 hours daily for five months from November 9.
Although the TIA office announced that the airport will remain closed due to necessary runway expansion, including work of taxiway and parking, the closure will significantly affect the tourist arrival. According to the TIA office, the airport will be closed from 10 PM to 8 AM. The TIA office insisted that this time period has been assigned to minimize disruption to the upcoming tourist season. A notice of the office mentioned that the airport will operate only 14 hours a day from November 8, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Currently, the TIA opens at 6 AM and operates till 2 AM.
Jagannath Niroula
TIA closed for an hour after runway develops potholes
Jagannath Niroula, general manager of the TIA, said that tourism arrivals will remain unaffected as there are three international airports in Nepal. “Construction work is the top priority. Nepal is operating three international airports. Gautam Buddha International Airport is also well equipped. It has been decided to initiate the construction work to ensure not to affect the tourist arrivals as well as the upcoming Chaitra and Baisakh months.
Tourism professionals and experts said that it is not appropriate to conduct the construction at the airport as the tourists arrive and depart in Nepal from the first week of Bhadra to the last week of Mangsir.
As the TIA Office has decided to close the airport in the middle of the tourism season, tourism professionals have been stating that the construction work can be postponed for some time. Entrepreneurs said that it is important to consider all aspects before starting work, as this is a crucial sector. They emphasized that it should be constructed so as not to affect the guests arriving in Nepal.
Bachchu Narayan Shrestha
Bachchu Narayan Shrestha, an expert who has worked in the tourism sector for a long time and former senior vice president of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), said that the news about the airport remaining closed for 10 hours is concerning as tourists arrive/depart in the current situation.
Shrestha said, “We believe that the construction work needs to be done. However, closing the airport at least 20 days ago seems rushed. If this work starts from 15 or 20 of Mangsir, there will be no impact on the tourist arrival. The concerned authorities should have considered this matter.”
Rajendra Sapkota
Rajendra Sapkota, a tourism professional and former member of Nepal Tourism Board, also said that it is not the suitable time to close the airport. According to him, the tourists who arrive in Nepal this year have faced a lot of difficulties due to the weather and it is certain that they will again face challenges due to the closure of the airport.
Sapkota said, “The matter of adverse weather is not under our control. Due to adverse weather conditions, tourists have to pay higher fares than the estimated cost and are compelled to use helicopters. At the same time, the airport is set to close which will significantly affect the tourists returning home. Nothing will be worse if the airport is closed and construction started in the last week of Mangsir. This represents that the government bodies did not cooperate with the government itself.
According to Sapkota, some tourists have already canceled their trip to Nepal due to this action of the airport. “Government organs need to know that this kind of action cannot create a positive attitude towards Nepal. We are not saying that the airport should not be built. However, the timing is not appropriate,” said Sapkota.
The TIA office said that if the five taxiways connected to the runway, the work connecting the runway to taxiways and apron from 10 places will be completed till Chaitra. The work for the expansion of the taxiway is going to take place around 75 meters from the center of the runway at the airport. The airport office said that following the completion of the airport upgrading work, the capacity of the runway will increase by about 20 percent along with the expansion of the taxiway and the air traffic will also decrease.
General Manager Niroula said that flight services will be less affected due to the decrease in air pressure during Dashain and Tihar till November 8, as well as the end of the tourist season.
