The number of domestic and international air passengers at Nepal’s international airports saw a significant growth in 2024.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), domestic passenger traffic at Tribhuvan International Airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport, and Pokhara Regional International Airport rose by 13 percent by November, while international passenger numbers increased by nearly 8 percent compared to the same period last year.
During CAAN’s 26th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, December 31, Director General Pradeep Adhikari presented the annual progress report, highlighting that approximately 8.76 million domestic passengers traveled through the three airports in the first 11 months of 2024. This is a significant rise from 7.7 million passengers recorded during the same period in 2023.
Similarly, international air travel saw a steady increase, with around 4.45 million passengers utilizing Nepal’s international airports by November 2024.
The number of international airlines operating in Nepal decreased from 29 in 2023 to 28 in 2024, following the merger of Vistara Airlines and Air India. International flights continue to connect Nepal to 29 destinations across 16 countries.
Domestically, 19 of the 21 licensed airlines remain active.
Meanwhile, progress on the long-awaited Nijgadh International Airport project was also highlighted. CAAN reported that the detailed engineering design for Phase-1 has been completed. Categorized under ICAO Code 4F, the airport is envisioned as a full-capacity international hub and a strategic alternative to Tribhuvan International Airport.
RSS
