Nepal has around fifty airports, both international and domestic. With only three international airports, Tribhuwan International Airport, Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport, another is about to get ready in Nijgadh, Chitwan. There were a lot of controversies regarding the establishment of the international airport. The airports in Nepal don’t have a very good reputation. Lukla Airport, the world’s most dangerous airport, is in Nepal. TIA is also considered one of the most unmanaged airports in the world. The new proposed airport in Nijgadh will hopefully clear this reputation.

List of international Airports in Nepal

International Airports in Nepal

Tribhuwan international airport

TIA, located in the heart of the Kathmandu Valley, is just 5.56 km east of Kathmandu city. It is surrounded by the ancient cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan, known for their art and culture. These cities are famous for their temples and pagodas and warm and friendly people who are a source of pride for the nation. As a result, TIA has become a thriving hub for domestic and international airlines.

TIA is the oldest international airport in Nepal. It has an elevation of 4390 Ft. AMSL. It is situated 5.6 km east of Kathmandu Valley. The runway is still very small for international aircraft. Recently, the news of TIA being unmanaged and polluted caught the public’s attention. It was restructured and managed. For now, it is in optimal condition. But still, many reformations are required in TIA.

Pokhara International Airport

Located in Chhine Danda, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Kaski, Gandaki Province, Nepal, Pokhara International Airport is positioned approximately 3 KM east of the existing domestic airport in Pokhara and 200 Km west of the capital city of Nepal. With an elevation of around 800 meters above sea level, this airport serves as the primary entry point for pilgrims and tourists travelling to popular religious sites such as Muktinath, Jomsom, and Annapurna Round Trek. Furthermore, it offers breathtaking views of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri mountains within the picturesque Pokhara valley. The valley also boasts stunning lakes like Phewa, Rupa, and Begnas, deep gorges, waterfalls, and caves.

The Pokhara International Airport is projected to handle one million passengers annually. The airport features a runway under the ICAO 4D Category, measuring 45 meters in width and 2500 meters in length. The runway is designated as 12-30, with Runway 12 offering Non-Precision Approach (NPA) and Runway 30 equipped with the ILS System Precision Approach CAT-1 (PA1) facility. In terms of parking, the airport has three international parking bays and eight domestic parking bays. The airport is prepared to accommodate aircraft such as the B737 series and similar models. This new operation will serve as a significant milestone, improving connectivity and playing a vital role in the region’s unparalleled economic development.

Gautam Buddha International Airport

Situated in the Rupandehi District of Lumbani Province, in the heart of south-central Nepal, lies GautamBuddha Airport. Standing at an elevation of 105 meters above mean sea level, this airport boasts a runway orientation of 10-28. Since its establishment in 1958, it has been functioning as a Domestic Airport and is one of Nepal’s oldest airports after Tribhuvan International Airport. Gautam Buddha Airport plays a crucial role in connectivity, serving as a vital link between neighbouring districts and catering to tourists on the Buddhist Heritage Tour to Lumbini.

In addition to catering to the local urban population, the airport also acts as a doorway to Lumbini, a renowned international pilgrimage site where Gautam Buddha was born. Moreover, being located in the Terai region, which has long been a major supplier of migrant labourers, the airport also serves as a hub for those workers returning home to visit their loved ones.

List of Domestic Airports in Nepal

In the article, I list the names of all the airports in Nepal. The listing has been done in alphabetical order.

Domestic Airports in Nepal
  1. Baglung Airport
  2. Bajura Airport
  3. Bhadrapur Airport
  4. Bharatpur Airport
  5. Meghauli Airport
  6. Bhojpur Airport
  7. Biratnagar Airport
  8. Surkhet Airport
  9. Dhorpatan Airport
  10. Jumla Airport
  11. Rukum Chaurjahari Airport
  12. Dhangadhi Airport
  13. Dolpa Airport
  14. Doti Airport[2]
  15. Darchula Airport
  16. Sukilumba Airport
  17. Janakpur Airport
  18. Bajhang Airport
  19. Simara Airport
  20. Jiri Airport
  21. Jomsom Airport
  22. Kamal Bazar Airport
  23. Kangeldanda Airport
  24. Tribhuvan International Airport
  25. Man Maya Airport
  26. Thamkharka Airport
  27. Lamidanda Airport
  28. Langtang Airport
  29. Tenzing-Hillary Airport
  30. Mahendranagar Airport
  31. Manang Airport
  32. Ramechhap Airport
  33. Rukum Salle Airport
  34. Nepalgunj Airport
  35. Masinechaur Airport
  36. Palungtar Airport
  37. Baitadi Airport
  38. Pokhara Airport
  39. Pokhara International Airport
  40. Rajbiraj Airport
  41. Talcha Airport
  42. Rolpa Airport
  43. Rumjatar Airport
  44. Sanphebagar Airport
  45. Gautam Buddha International Airport
  46. Simikot Airport
  47. Phaplu Airport
  48. Syangboche Airport
  49. Taplejung Airport
  50. Tikapur Airport
  51. Dang Airport
  52. Tumlingtar Airport

List of 33 Operational Airports in Nepal

Airports in Nepal
  1. Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
  2. Nepalgunj Airport
  3. Pokhara Airport
  4. Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa
  5. Biratnagar Airport
  6. Chandragadhi Airport
  7. Bharatpur Airport
  8. Janakpur Airport
  9. Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla
  10. Simara Airport
  11. Surkhet Airport
  12. Dhangadhi Airport
  13. Jomsom Airport
  14. Simikot Airport
  15. Tumlingtar Airport
  16. Jumla Airport
  17. Dolpa Airport
  18. Bajura Airport
  19. Ramechhap Airport
  20. Bhojpur Airport
  21. Phaplu Airport
  22. Rara Airport, Talcha, Mugu
  23. Rukum Salle Airport
  24. Rumjhatar Airport
  25. Taplejung Airport
  26. Khanidanda Airport
  27. Rajbiraj Airport
  28. Sanphebagar Airport
  29. Dang Airport
  30. Thamkharka Airport
  31. Bajhang Airport
  32. Doti Airport
  33. Baitadi Airport

The dangerous airport in Nepal

Here is a little detail about the only international airport and the world’s one of the most dangerous airports in Nepal.

Lukla airport

Lukla Airport is also known as Tenzin Hilary Airport. It is situated in Khumbu, Solukhumbu district, in Lukla. It has earned its reputation as the most dangerous airport in the world because of its location amidst the hills and small runway. Lukla is a place from which people start climbing Mount Everest. Thus there are almost daily flights from and to Lukla to Kathmandu and other major cities.