Tarigaun Airport, which has been out of operation repeatedly stating the problem of fuel depot has resumed its service on October 8, 2018 (yesterday). Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has initiated the flight with the plan to operate two flights weekly.
The flight from Kathmandu to Dang was operated under the command of Pilot Uddav Ghimire and Co-pilot Prachanda Khadka yesterday. The corporation will conduct flight every Monday and Friday from Kathmandu to Dang at 11:45 AM and from Dang to Kathmandu at 1:30 pm.
However, the airport still lacks availability of fuel depot due to which, the aircraft will operate through Bhairahawa to fill fuel. This action will be repeated until the fuel depot is not arranged at Dang Airport.
The corporation has allocated air ticket at Rs 5880 from Kathmandu to Dang whereas Rs 6070 from Dang to Kathmandu. Local people are full of joy when the corporation announced to operate regular flights at the festive season.
According to the source, Ghanshyam Pandey, head of Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City has requested to resume the airport stating the development and prosperity of the entire dang is linked with Dang Airport.
Dang airport which came into operation in 1954 AD has been irregular in its services. Due to lack of refueling facilities and improper runway, airline operators did not show their interest to operate at Dang.
NAC had flown to airport till 2 decades ago but couldn’t operate consistently due to fuel shortage. By the late 90s, NAC, Yeti and Sita airlines conducted a flight per week and continued for 6 years. Then the airport was closed for 4 years for the blacktopping project.
A couple of years back since May 28, 2015, Summit Air, previously Goma Air operated the flight with the help of Tulshipur Industries and commerce union that continued for 9 months only. Later it was halted due to lack of passengers as stated by the airline. Summit airlines again had resumed operation from January 7, 2017, but it has been occasional and was shut down eventually.
Dang (Tarigaun) Airport is located in western Nepal at an elevation of 634 m/2080 ft. above mean sea level. The airport has Bituminous Paved (Asphalt Concrete) runway with its dimension of 750 m x 30 meters aligned to 160 degrees and 340 degrees. The airport currently has three parking bay which can accommodate the STOL aircraft like Dornier D228, DHC6 Twin Otter, LET L410, Harbin Y12e and Cessna Grand Caravan C208.
