Pokhara Regional International Airport (Nepali: पोखरा क्षेत्रीय अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विमानस्थल) is an airport under construction in Pokhara, Gandaki Province, Nepal. It is located 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the existing domestic airport. It is set to open in 2023. The airport will become Nepal's third international airport.

Pokhara International Airport
IATA: — ICAO: —
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Government of Nepal
Operator	Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal
Serves	Pokhara, Nepal
Location	Pokhara, Gandaki Province
Coordinates	28.189690°N 84.014893°E / 28.189690; 84.014893
Map
Pokhara International Airport Location within Gandaki Pradesh Show map of Gandaki Province Pokhara International Airport Pokhara International Airport (Nepal) Show map of Nepal
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 12/30 8,202 2,500 Concrete

Development

The concept of constructing an international airport in Pokhara was first developed in 1971.[1] In 1976, the Government of Nepal acquired land for that purpose.[2] In 1989, the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a study regarding the construction of the airport.[3] The project stalled, however, and was reinitiated in 2009, when a new agreement on air travel between India and Nepal was signed.[4] In 2013, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal signed an agreement with China CAMC Engineering for the construction of the airport. The construction of the airport started in April 2016 and is expected to be completed after five years in 2021 with a cost of around US$305 million,[5] out of which the Asian Development Bank supported with USD 37 million in loans and grants and the OPEC Fund for International Development with an USD 11 million loan.[6] The airport is expected to handle one million passengers per year.[6]

In April 2016, prime minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone of the new airport with the aim of beginning operations at the airport on 10 July 2021.[7] In 2020, it was proposed to open both new international airports of Nepal, Pokhara and Gautam Buddha Airport, on the same day.[8] In 2020, it was revealed that close-by Rithepani Hill to the eastern end of the approach would needed to be flattened to ease approach to the airport.[9] This decision to was delayed due to severe protesting by locals.[10] The flattening would not start until late 2022.[11]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, in 2021, the construction deadline was extended until 2022.[12] In October 2021, officials confirmed that the airport would open in two steps: domestic flights will begin in January 2022, while international flights will begin in April 2022.[13]

In 2022, it was announced that calibration flights would begin in October 2022.[14]

In mid-2022, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal pushed back the opening to December 2022 due to a lack of flight inspections.[15] On 8 August 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal set the official opening date for 1 January 2023.[16]

Facilities

The new Pokhara airport is built to the category 4D standard set by the ICAO, IATA, and FAA.[17]^{[importance?]}

Apron

The international apron at this airport can handle up to 3 narrow body aircraft with two aerobridge facilities,[18] while the aprons at the domestic terminal are able to accommodate up to 8 aircraft: four ATR-72 size turboprops and four smaller STOL aircraft.^{[importance?]}

Runway

The airport has a single 2,500 m (8,200 ft) long runway with a width of 45 meters and depth of 34 cm. It has an east-west orientation with a 330m runway strip.[19] The airport has a concrete runway and has the markings of the centerline, edge, touchdown zone, and the threshold. The taxiway of 1.2km long and 23m wide is built from the runway central line on the north side parallel to the runway.[19] The airside infrastructure works also includes two 182.5m x 23m exit taxiways, access roads, and aerodrome pavement.[20]^{[importance?]}

The runway supports takeoff and landing operations of commercial aircraft of 150-200 seat capacity, such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 series.[21]^{[importance?]}

Aids to Navigation

The airport features a 2,500m² air traffic control tower and operations building and an air navigation unit. There are two non-precision approaches available at the Pokhara Airport; VHF omnidirectional range along a distance measuring equipment (VOR/DME) and Required Area Navigation (RNAV/RNP).[22] The airport is also equipped with a Category I Precision Approach ILS system, which includes equipment such as localizer and glide path to help inbound, ILS-equipped aircraft.[23] Additionally, an eight-storey air traffic control tower also supports a Wide area multilateration (WAM) based surveillance system, the first of its kind in Nepal.[24]

High intensity 870 metres (2,850 ft) extended centerline lights are installed at the southern end of the airport to assist with the approach. It is equipped with advanced communication, navigation, and monitoring equipment and a high-end navigational lighting system.[25] A QNH altimeter setting will be made available in approach and landing instructions.^{[importance?]}

Terminals

There are two public terminals at the airport, one for international traffic and one for domestic traffic. The new airport infrastructure includes a 10,000 square meters international terminal building with a steel roof as well as a 3,500m² customs and cargo building.[17] The international terminal can handle up to 610 departing passengers per hour. Two terminals, one domestic and one international, will be able to handle one million passengers annually. The 4,000m² domestic terminal is located to the western side of the airport.^{[citation needed]}

Aircraft Maintenance

Buddha Air plans on constructing a hangar that can accommodate aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A319.[26] The airport will also feature a 6,000m² domestic and international hangar.^{[citation needed]}

Expected airlines and destinations

Buddha Air is planning to operate its planned international fleet of Boeing or Airbus aircraft out of Pokhara International Airport.[27] In mid-2021, Biman Bangladesh Airlines was the first international carrier to plan to serve the airport upon opening.[28]

Statistics

Access

The airport is located near Prithvi Highway.

References