Pokhara Regional International Airport

Pokhara Regional International Airport (Nepali: पोखरा क्षेत्रीय अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विमानस्थल) is an airport under construction in Pokhara, Gandaki Province, Nepal. It is located 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the existing domestic airport. It is set to open in 2022. The airport will become Nepal's third international airport.

This article is about a future airport serving Pokhara, Nepal. For the current domestic airport in Pokhara, see Pokhara Airport.

Pokhara Regional International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Nepal
OperatorCivil Aviation Authority of Nepal
ServesPokhara, Nepal
LocationPokhara, Gandaki Province
Coordinates28.189690°N 84.014893°E / 28.189690; 84.014893
Map
Pokhara Regional International Airport
Location within Gandaki Pradesh
Pokhara Regional International Airport
Pokhara Regional International Airport (Nepal)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
12/30 8,202 2,500 Concrete

Development

The concept of constructing an international airport in Pokhara was first developed in 1971.[1] In 1976, the Government of Nepal acquired land for the purpose.[2] In 1989, the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a study regarding the construction of the airport.[3] The project stalled, however, and was reinitiated in 2009, when a new agreement on air travel between India and Nepal was signed.[4] In 2013, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal signed an agreement with China CAMC Engineering for the construction of the airport. The construction of the airport started in April 2016 and is expected to be completed after five years in 2021 with a cost of around US$305 million,[5] out of which the Asian Development Bank supported with USD 37 million in loans and grants and the OPEC Fund for International Development with an USD 11 million loan.[6] The airport is expected to handle one million passengers per year.[6]

Construction of the building of airport in Pokhara
A scene of constructing Pokhara International Airport

In April 2016, prime minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone of the new airport with the aim of beginning operations at the airport on 10 July 2021.[7] In 2020, it was proposed to open both new international airports of Nepal, Pokhara and Gautam Buddha Airport, on the same day.[8] In 2021, the decision to faltten a hill to the eastern end of the approach was delayed due to locals protesting.[9] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, in 2021, the construction deadline was extended until 2022.[10] In October 2021, officials confirmed that the airport would open in two steps: domestic flights willbegin in January 2022, while international flights will begin in April 2022.[11]

In 2022, it was announced that calibration flights would begin in October 2022.[12]

Facilities

When the airport begins operations, it will have a 2,500 m (8,200 ft) runway with a parallel taxiway that can accommodate medium range jets. The airport will have a concrete runway and jet bridges. The parking bays will be able to handle up to 11 aircraft, including three jet aircraft and eight smaller aircraft. Two terminals, one domestic and one international, will be able to handle one million passengers annually.[13]

Aircraft maintenance

Buddha Air plans on constructing a hangar that can accommodate aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A319.[14]

Expected airlines and destinations
Main article: Pokhara Airport § Airlines and destinations

Buddha Air is planning to operate its planned international fleet of Boeing or Airbus aircraft out of Pokhara International Airport.[15] In Mid-2021, Biman Bangladesh Airlines was the first international carrier to plan to serve the airport upon opening.[16]

Statistics
Main article: Pokhara Airport § Statistics
Annual passenger traffic at PKR airport. See source Wikidata query.

Access

The airport is located near Prithvi Highway.

References
  1. Prasain, Sangam (20 March 2022). "Technical tests at Pokhara's new airport slated to begin in April". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  2. "Economic takeoff". Nepali Times. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. Poudel, Ramesh (4 May 2012). "Finally, a new airport?". Nepali Times. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  4. "International Pokhara: Buddha Air eyes Indian tourism and pilgrim market", Nepali Times issue #274, 30 October 2010, accessed 4 March 2011.
  5. "New Pokhara International Airport". CAPA Centre for Aviation. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. "Nepal's second international airport nearly complete, ready for takeoff: ADB". The Himalayan Times. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. "Pokhara International Airport handed over to Nepal". República. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. Gautam, Santosh (19 November 2020). "Bhairahawa and Pokhara Airport to inaugurate on same day". Aviation Nepal. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  9. Baral, Krishnamani (21 March 2021). "Cabinet indecision delays Pokhara Airport". Nepali Times. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  10. Prasain, Sangam. "Pokhara airport project okayed to flatten hill near runway". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  11. "Pokhara's new airport to operate domestic flights from January, international ones from April". Online Khabar. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  12. "Test flights of Pokhara Regional International Airport in October". Nepal News. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  13. "Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA)". Airport Technology. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  14. Rai, Pinkey (15 May 2019). "Buddha Air to build hangar in Pokhara". Aviation Nepal. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  15. "Nepal's Buddha Air eyes decision on narrowbody jets in 4Q18". CH-Aviation. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  16. "Tourism entrepreneurs seek direct flights from Pokhara to Dhaka to bring in more Bangladeshi tourists". República. Retrieved 1 August 2021.


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