Sachin Walls
Yes, there is an airport in Pokhara, Nepal. The Pokhara International Airport (IATA: PHH, ICAO: VNPR) began operations on 1 January 2023 and is expected to handle up to one million passengers per year. The airport is located 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the old domestic airport, which it will gradually replace. The idea of constructing an international airport in Pokhara was first proposed in 1971, and construction finally began in April 2016, with an estimated cost of around $305 million.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pokhara International Airport |
| Location | Pokhara, Gandaki Province, Nepal |
| Airport codes | IATA: PHH, ICAO: VNPR |
| Runway | N/A |
| Elevation | N/A |
| Coordinates | N/A |
| Type | International airport |
| Owner | Government of Nepal |
| Operator | Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal |
| Opened | 1 January 2023 |
| Cost | $216 million |
| Funding | Export-Import Bank of China, Asian Development Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development |
| Capacity | 1 million passengers per year |
| Destinations | 1 weekly international route |
| Airlines | Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Air Dynasty, Prabhu Helicopter, Simrik Air |
| Incidents | Yeti Airlines Flight 691 crash on 15 January 2023 |
Explore related products
![Airport: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81-nvGF8wgL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Pokhara International Airport opened in 2023
Nepal's third international airport, Pokhara International Airport, officially opened on 1 January 2023. The airport is located in Pokhara, Gandaki Province, Nepal, and is expected to handle up to one million passengers per year. The idea for an international airport in Pokhara was first proposed in 1971, but the project stalled until 2009 when it was reinstated following a new air travel agreement between India and Nepal. Construction finally began in April 2016 and was initially expected to be completed in 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline was extended to 2022, and the official opening date was set for 1 January 2023.
The airport is located 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the old domestic airport, which it gradually replaced. The old airport, established in 1958, used to offer regular connections to Kathmandu and Jomsom, as well as seasonal connections to Manang. Even before the opening of the new airport, international flights from Pokhara were already being operated by Buddha Air, a private Nepali airline.
The development of the airport faced several challenges and controversies. In 2020, a proposal emerged to open both new international airports in Nepal, Pokhara and Gautam Buddha Airport, on the same day. The construction of Pokhara International Airport was funded by a 20-year loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, which has caused financial strain on Nepal. An investigation in 2023 revealed irregularities and corruption by officials and lawmakers, which allowed the Chinese state-owned contractor, China CAMC Engineering, to ignore its obligations and charge for work it didn't complete. The inquiry also found that the construction was not finished to specifications and used poor-quality materials.
Despite these issues, the opening of Pokhara International Airport was a significant event for the country. To celebrate the occasion, the city of Pokhara declared a public holiday. The first flight to arrive at the airport was a Buddha Air flight carrying the Prime Minister and his delegation. The airport is equipped with advanced communication, navigation, and monitoring equipment, as well as a high-end navigational lighting system. It has two public terminals, one for international and one for domestic traffic.
Arriving Early: How Much Time is Needed at the Airport?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It is Nepal's third international airport
Pokhara International Airport (IATA: PHH, ICAO: VNPR) is Nepal's third international airport. It is located in Pokhara, Gandaki Province, Nepal, and began operations on 1 January 2023. The airport is expected to handle up to one million passengers per year.
The idea of constructing an international airport in Pokhara was first proposed in 1971, and the Government of Nepal acquired land for the project in 1976. However, the project stalled until it was reinstated in 2009 following a new air travel agreement between India and Nepal. Construction finally began in April 2016 and was expected to be completed in 2021. The airport was inaugurated in 2023, with the first international flight arriving in June 2023.
Pokhara International Airport is located 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the old domestic Pokhara Airport, which it will gradually replace. The old airport offered regular connections to Kathmandu and Jomsom and seasonal connections to Manang. The new airport features a 2,500-square-metre Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, operations building, and air navigation unit. The runway is capable of handling aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737.
The construction of Pokhara International Airport was funded by a $215 million preferential loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, with additional contributions from the Asian Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development. However, the project has been mired in controversy due to corruption allegations, engineering flaws, and safety concerns. Despite these issues, the airport is now operational and serves as a gateway to the Pokhara region of Nepal.
Exploring Seattle Tacoma Airport's Busy Status: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The airport was constructed with a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China
Nepal's third international airport, Pokhara International Airport, is located in the country's second-biggest city, Pokhara, Gandaki Province. The airport officially began operations on 1 January 2023, with the aim of handling up to one million passengers per year. The airport is linked by an access road to the Prithvi Highway, and buses also connect it to the city centre.
The airport was constructed with a 20-year loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, a state-owned lender that finances Beijing's overseas development work. The loan amount was $216 million. The construction was carried out by China CAMC Engineering, the construction arm of the state-owned conglomerate Sinomach. However, the project was mired in controversy due to "irregularities and corruption" by Nepali officials and lawmakers, which allowed the contractor to ignore its obligations. An investigation found that China CAMC Engineering had failed to pay taxes, did not complete the project to specifications, and used poor-quality construction. As a result, Nepal has struggled to attract international flights to the airport, with only one weekly international route landing in Pokhara as of 2025.
The financial burden of the loan has become a concern for Nepal, as the airport has not generated the expected revenue, with international passenger numbers falling short of projections. The Nepali government has requested that China convert the loan into a grant, but as of 2024, there was no formal announcement of an agreement. The Belt and Road Initiative, under which China provided the loan, has extended over $1 trillion in loans and grants for international infrastructure projects. However, some developing countries have struggled to repay these debts, leading to criticism of China's infrastructure projects.
Pokhara International Airport features a 2,500-square-metre Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, an operations building, and an air navigation unit. The runway is capable of handling aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737, with international landings and takeoffs using the eastern part of the runway. The airport is designed to gradually replace the old domestic airport located 3 kilometres to the west, with domestic flights to Jomsom still operating from the old airport as of 2025.
Airports Unveil New Rules: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
It is located 3km east of the old domestic airport
Pokhara International Airport is located 3km east of the old domestic airport in Nepal's Gandaki Province. The airport officially began operations on 1 January 2023, though it was initially planned to open in July 2021. The old domestic airport still handles STOL operations to Jomsom.
The idea for an international airport in Pokhara was first proposed in 1971, and the government acquired land for the project in 1975-76. However, the project stalled and was only reinstated in 2009 following a new air travel agreement between India and Nepal. Construction finally began in April 2016, with an estimated cost of around $305 million. The Export-Import Bank of China provided a large portion of this sum as a preferential loan to Nepal.
The airport is expected to handle up to one million passengers per year, serving as an aerial gateway to the popular Annapurna region trekking routes. It will have a 45-metre-wide, 2500-metre-long runway, capable of accommodating jets like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, with sufficient parking spaces, terminals, and hangars.
Pokhara International Airport has been plagued by controversy, with a government inquiry finding "irregularities and corruption" by officials and lawmakers. The project has also faced challenges in meeting construction deadlines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has fallen short of its projections for international passengers, receiving only one international flight per week.
Setting the Course: Boeing's Airport Navigation Guide
You may want to see also
The airport has a capacity of one million passengers per year
Yes, there is an airport in Pokhara, Nepal. The Pokhara International Airport (IATA: PHH, ICAO: VNPR) is Nepal's third international airport and is located 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the old domestic airport, which it will gradually replace.
The airport is equipped with advanced technology, including a 2,500-square-metre (27,000 sq ft) Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, a CAT-I ILS system, and a Wide Area Multilateration (WAM)-based surveillance system, the first of its kind in Nepal. It also features high-intensity extended centerline lights to assist with aircraft approach.
Pokhara International Airport is accessible by an access road connected to the Prithvi Highway, and buses also provide transportation to and from the city centre. The airport has seen several airlines express interest in operating from the airport, including Buddha Air, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and Air Dynasty, Prabhu Helicopter, and Simrik Air for helicopter operations.
Lowering Ping with Airport Extreme: Tips and Tricks
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is an international airport in Pokhara, Nepal.
Pokhara International Airport officially began operations on 1 January 2023.
The airport is expected to handle up to one million passengers per year.
The airport cost approximately $216 million to construct.
The airport is connected to the city centre by an access road to the Prithvi Highway and by bus.
