Pokhara Regional International Airport

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

Pokhara Regional International Airport
Pokhara International Airport.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Nepal
OperatorCivil Aviation Authority of Nepal
ServesPokhara, Nepal
LocationPokhara, Gandaki Province
Coordinates28°11′23″N 84°00′54″E / 28.189690°N 84.014893°E / 28.189690; 84.014893Coordinates: 28°11′23″N 84°00′54″E / 28.189690°N 84.014893°E / 28.189690; 84.014893
Map
Pokhara Regional International Airport is located in Gandaki Province
Pokhara Regional International Airport
Pokhara Regional International Airport
Location within Gandaki Pradesh
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
12/30 8,202 2,500 Concrete

Pokhara Regional International Airport (Nepali: पोखरा क्षेत्रीय अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विमानस्थल) is an under-construction airport 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 early 2022. The airport will become Nepal's third international airport.

Development[]

The concept of constructing an international airport in Pokhara was first developed in 1976, when the Government of Nepal acquired land for the purpose.[1] In 1989, the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a study regarding the construction of the airport.[2] However, the project was reinitiated only in 2013 and one year later, 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. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation awarded the contract to construct and develop the airport to China CAMC Engineering.[3] The airport is expected to handle one million passengers per year.[4]

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 operation the airport in 2020.[3] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, in 2021, the construction deadline was extended until 2022.[5] In October 2021, it was confirmed that the airport would open in two steps: domestic flights would begin in January 2022, international ones in April 2022.[6]

Facilities[]

When the airport comes into operation, it will have a 2,500 m (8,200 ft) runway with a parallel taxiway that can accommodate medium range jets like Airbus A320s and Boeing 737/757s. The airport will have a concrete runway and jet bridges. The parking bays(apron) will be able to handle up to 11 aircraft in which 3 will be international aircraft (Narrow body aircraft) and 8 will be domestic.Two terminals, one domestic and one international, will be able to handle one million passengers annually. The airport will have a 1,200-meter (3,900 ft) long and 23-meter (75 ft) wide taxi-way which connects the runway with hangars, terminals and parking bays. The airport will have a 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft) international terminal building and a 4,000 m2 (43,000 sq ft) domestic terminal building.[7]

Aircraft maintenance[]

Buddha Air is planning to construct a hangar that can accommodate aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A319.[8]

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.[9] In Mid-2021, Biman Bangladesh Airlines was the first international carrier to plan to serve the airport upon opening.[10]

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. ^ "Economic takeoff". Nepali Times. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Finally, a new airport?". Nepali Times. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b "New Pokhara International Airport". Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA)". www.airport-technology.com. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  5. ^ "Pokhara airport project okayed to flatten hill near runway". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Pokhara's new airport to operate domestic flights from January, international ones from April". Online Khabar. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA)". Airport Technology. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Buddha Air to build hangar in Pokhara". Aviation Nepal. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Nepal's Buddha Air eyes decision on narrowbody jets in 4Q18". CH-Aviation. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Tourism entrepreneurs seek direct flights from Pokhara to Dhaka to bring in more Bangladeshi tourists". República. Retrieved 1 August 2021.

External links[]

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