Starting November 8, Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will reduce international flight operations by nearly one-third due to an extensive upgrade project requiring a 10-hour daily closure.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) announced the airport will be closed from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am and this will remain in effect until March 2024. These operational changes, part of a broader plan to enhance parking, runway, and hangar facilities, aim to improve service quality at Nepal’s busiest airport.
To compensate for the reduction in TIA’s operating hours, CAAN has actively encouraged international airlines to reroute some flights to Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) and Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa. However, major carriers have shown reluctance to use these alternative airports, leading CAAN to reduce flights from TIA. While the cuts will affect all airlines operating from Kathmandu, Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, with the highest frequencies, will see the most significant reductions in weekly flights.
CAAN introduced various incentives to support a shift to PRIA and GBIA, including a two-year waiver on landing and parking fees, a fuel discount for international flights from these airports, and proposals for VAT reductions on ticket prices to help keep fares competitive. Despite these efforts, few airlines have committed to operating from the alternative airports. Currently, only Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways and Dubai’s flydubai maintain schedules at GBIA. Thai Air Asia previously flew from GBIA but suspended operations after its permit expired.
Nepal’s capacity to support international air traffic expanded with the opening of GBIA, which can handle up to two million passengers annually, and PRIA, with a one-million-passenger capacity. Nonetheless, airlines remain reluctant to embrace these facilities, despite ongoing state efforts to shift traffic away from the heavily congested TIA. According to CAAN spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul, TIA’s closures could have been mitigated if more airlines had opted for the new airports. Bhul noted that Kathmandu remains the primary preference for carriers despite available alternatives and state-provided incentives.
The operational adjustments follow recent changes in Nepal's weather patterns, with the monsoon season fully withdrawing on October 12 after a delayed start and retreat. This delay, adding to cooler post-monsoon temperatures, aligns with CAAN's efforts to manage increased passenger and airline needs during this transitional period.
