In a bid to curb air traffic congestion and takeoff and landing delays, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country’s only international airport, is preparing to start round-the-clock operation from October.
Projected rise in the number of passengers in 2011, increased international airlines flight frequency and continuous traffic growth for the last couple of years are some major reasons prompting TIA to start 24-hour service, said a TIA official.
According to TIA’s passengers’ and aircraft movement data, the year 2010 saw a total of 3.99 million passengers movement, against 3.40 million in 2009. In 2010, TIA handled 586,244 additional passengers, up by 17. 21percent, compared to 2009. In terms of aircraft movement, the airport processed 99,291 aircrafts in 2010, against 91,892 in 2009, up by 8.05 percent.
TIA handles 27 international airlines and 13 domestic carriers. Currently, the airport operates 18 hours per day although it is open for 24 hours. With the Nepal Tourism Year-2011 targeting 700,000 air passengers, 200,000 more to what the country had received in 2009, TIA’s operation hours had been a serious issue.
Also, international airlines planning for additional flights will also add pressure on TIA. Recently, China Southern and Dragon Air doubled their flight frequency to Kathmandu, while Spice Jet doubled its flight to 14 from seven per week and Oman Air increased its seven flights per week to nine. The Indian domestic carrier IndiGo is also expected to join Nepal soon.
Source: www.nepalmountainnews.com
