The country’s only international airport is now operational for 21 hours a day starting from today. The initiation has been taken to address the increasing air traffic and congestion at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The General Manager of TIA Mr. Raj Kumar Chhetri said that the airport is all set to remain operational for 21 hours a day and the new schedule will be inaugurated today by the Honorable Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) Mr. Rabindra Adhikari.
TIA has been operating for 18 hours 30 minutes in three shifts daily which will be now extended by 2 hours 30 minutes. The authority is expected to provide facilities to the air traffic controllers and other staff for the increased workload.
Currently, 72 ATC officers are working in three shifts and more ATC are expected to be hired in the coming days.
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. Qatar Airways and Wataniya Airways have shown interest to operate at the extended hours. Other airlines are also expected to operate during the lean hours.
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.
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.
