CAAN focuses on airport infrastructure development and passenger service facilities

KATHMANDU, Jan 03:The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has said that it has worked extensively on infrastructure construction and improvement. Director General E. Pradeep Adhikari presented a success report at the CAAN's 26th anniversary celebration, stating that special attention has been paid to infrastructure construction and air safety.

He also stated that the number of international air passengers traveling through Tribhuvan International Airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport, and Pokhara International Airport was 415.4393 in November 2023, with a total of 4449,133 in November 2024.

TThe number of passengers climbed by 7.09 percent over the same period previous year. Director General Adhikari stated that the CAAN has also prioritized infrastructure construction and improvement as the number of aviation passengers grows.

Similarly, 7.7 million air passengers flew domestically until November 2023, with 8760,302 in November 2024. According to the figures, the number of passengers climbed by almost 13% over the same period last year.

The number of international airlines flying to Nepal was 29 in 2023, but it has since declined to 28 as Vistara Airlines merged with Air India in 2024. Nepal operates regular flights to 29 abroad spread across 16 countries.

Domestically, 19 of the 21 airlines with operating licenses are now in operation. The domestic air service network connects 35 of the 55 airports.

The CAAN has done a lot of work to improve airport infrastructure and extend passenger services.

According to Director General Adhikari, the ICAO Code 4D includes a 2500-meter runway, taxiway, apron, isolated parking apron and axis road, as well as the international terminal building, hangar, administrative building, and control tower, for a total of 14 buildings and structures, and instrument landing.

Under ICAO 4D, all buildings and infrastructure have been constructed, including a 3000-meter runway, taxiway, apron, international parking apron, international terminal building, administrative building, and control tower.

To expedite VIP transportation at Tribhuvan International Airport, customers can request services by filling out an online form or scanning a QR code.

A well-organized passenger help desk has been established on the departure side of Tribhuvan International Airport, and a help desk has been set up to provide terminal gates, tickets, flight information, and wheelchair services, as well as arrangements to give priority to the elderly, pregnant, children, and differently-abled passengers. The development of the Tribhuvan Airport parking lot, as well as the pickup and drop-off areas, is complete.

Flight services have begun at Tumlingtar, Surkhet, and Bharatpur airports, employing aircraft such as ATR and Dash, which benefit passengers. To improve air security, 8 metal detectors and 32 handheld metal detectors were purchased and installed.

Since July 20, helicopter operations have begun from the newly constructed helipad in Nalinchowk, Bhaktapur, with a total parking capacity of 17 helicopters, lowering air pressure at Tribhuvan Airport and reducing airplane holding.

To increase capacity, Tribhuvan International Airport's authorized master plan calls for the development of an aircraft landing field and taxiway to the north of the airport, which can accommodate up to 18 international aircraft.

State-of-the-art electronic equipment has been installed in numerous sites across the airport, including the movement zones of Tribhuvan Airport's domestic and international terminals. Ten apron masses have been built and operational throughout the airport.

The 315-meter-long approach board and fire escape on the airport's runway 2 side have been finished, and the parking area has been increased to approximately 1,400 square meters on the landside.

An additional 500 trolleys have been ordered at the airport to ensure that there are enough trolleys for passenger service facilities. On the domestic side of Tribhuvan Airport, the arrival hall with a capacity of 400 passengers per hour, including two freshly constructed luggage conveyor belts, was opened and began operations on March 10, 2080.

Tenzing Hillary Airport, regarded as the access gateway to the highest peak, Mount Everest, has been upgraded by installing a baggage screening equipment in Lukla via a helicopter sealing operation since 21 Baisakh 2081.

Construction work has already begun at Tribhuvan Airport, which has reduced its night operation hours from 23 Kartik this year.

The Authority has declared that the detailed engineering design work for Phase-1, as well as the master plan for a full-capacity alternative international airport under the Nijgadh International Airport Project (ICAO Code 4F), has been completed.