Only 33 airports are operational in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Oct 13: Currently, there are 52 airports in the country, including international ones. However, the aircrafts does not reach everyone.

Seven airports with black paper runways are not in use. CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niraula said that ships can take off and land at that airport. Adding that there is no black paper runway, 19 airports are useless.

Out of 52 airports, only 33 are operational. Niraula says that the airport is not operational because there are no planes going to remote areas. There are no planes that can sail in remote areas. And the first purpose for which the airport was brought into operation, an alternative came out," Niraula said, "There was no road in the past. Transportation and in some cases rescue of patients had to be done by airplanes and helicopters.

At that time, an airport was built for the purpose of salt, food and medicinal treatment in remote areas. Airports that were built when flights were the only option for fast transportation have ceased to be used with the expansion of roads. He says that the airport was first built for transportation in Baglung, Jiri, Dolpa and other districts. The authority says that the airports are not being used because there are fewer planes plying in remote areas.

As air travel is more expensive than road travel and the road network is expanding, roads are becoming the choice of common people. As a result, remote airports have not been used. According to the road department, there are about 100,000 km of roads in Nepal including national highways and others.

Now the road has been extended to remote Humla, Dolpa. According to the authority, airports with black runways can be used at any time. Bajura, Bharatpur, Baitadi, Bajang, Bhojpur, Biratnagar, Chandragarhi, Doti, Dang, Dhangadhi, Dolpa, Gautam Buddha International, Ilam, Janakpur, Jomsom, Jumla, Khanidanda, Nepalgunj, Phaplu, Pokhara, Rajviraj, Ramechhap, Rara, Simra, Surkhet , Salle (Rukum), Simikot, Sanfebagar, Tribhuvan International, Tumlingtar, Tenzing Hillary (Lukla), Taplejung and Thamkhark airports are operational.

Airports that are not in use include Baglung, Chaurjahari, Darchula, Dhorpatan, Palungtar (Gorkha), Resunga (Gulmi), Jiri, Kangeldanda (Solukhumbu), Khiji Chandeshwari (Okhaldhunga), Langtang, Lamidanda, Mahendranagar, Manang, Masinechaur (Dolpa), Meghauli, Rolpa. , Syangboche (Solukhumbu), Rumjatar (Okhaldhunga) and Tikapur. Millions of dollars have been invested in the construction of these airports. Even now, in remote areas including Karnali, we have to rely on ships for everything from food transportation to medical treatment.

Buddha Air, which has been serving the most passengers in Sugam, has announced that it will fly to remote areas. Currently Buddha, Yeti, Shree, Saurya, Guna, national flag carrier Nepal Airlines and others have been flying to airports with easy routes like Kathmandu, Bhairahawa, Nepalganj, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Rajviraj, Simra, Chandragadhi.

Tara Air, the sister organization of Yeti Airlines, has been flying the remote (stall route) target. Nepal Airlines has also been flying to remote areas. Private companies are also doing mountain flights.