From May 21, the sole international airport of Nepal, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will be operational for 21 hours a day. Civil Aviation of TIA stated that required preparation has already begun to extend 3 more flying hours to current 18 hours flight time.
Spokesperson for TIA Prem Nath Thakur said that all necessary preparations have already been done and the Honorable Minister for MoCTCA Mr. Rabindra Adhikari will be inaugurating the extended service to be started from Monday.
Around 90 daily flights from around 28 international airlines of 14 different countries operate while domestic airlines perform 350 daily flights to and from TIA from 6 AM in morning to 12:30 in midnight.
11 am to 5 pm and 8 pm to 11 pm — are the rush hours at TIA where more aircraft take off and land.
MoCTCA has directed to operate the airport for 21 hours from 6AM to 3 AM and General Manager of TIA Raj Kumar Chhetri said that they are doing all they can to implement the decision. He also stated that proper coordination with various agencies is required to fulfill the plan and the major problem which is related to human resource required for departments like Immigration, Security agencies, customs etc. is being addressed and all stakeholders are also working it.
Every stakeholders started their preparation after Tourism Minister (MoCTCA) Rabindra Adhikari stated about operating airport for 21 hours in his 100 days work plan for upcoming tourism year 2020 and all of them are ready to help in operation by paying more incentive to all level staffs. TIA has also invited tender for bringing new technology which can help to repair runway within 30 minutes.
Officials are also ready to study to make airport operational for 24 hours after smooth operation can be done in 21 hours. And the officials are also positive that the airport can smoothly operate for 21 hours a day though it may be difficult at beginning.
TIA also stated that all international airlines are informed about the program and they have got positive response from some of the airlines who are ready to shift their day flights after midnight. 11 am to 5 pm and 8 pm to 11 pm — are the rush hours at TIA where more aircrafts take off and land.
