List of Major Airports in Nepal, Domestic and International

Road transportation in the hilly and Himalayan region of Nepal is difficult due to difficult road sections, inaccessible terrain, and underdeveloped road infrastructure. In such conditions, the quickest and safest way to travel is air transportation.

Whether you are a frequent traveler who requires travelling from one major city to another in Nepal or an adventure tourist travelling to remote trekking destinations, Nepal’s airport and air transport are reliable options. This blog provides information about major international and domestic airports in Nepal that offer services to international and domestic passengers.

List of International Airports in Nepal

Nepal offers numerous international airports that provide services to the international passengers. International airports are primary contributors to the national economy, as they are gateways to international tourists in Nepal. Many Nepali workers, business travelers, and workers are served by the airport daily to reach their ultimate destination country.

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)

The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is the first and primary international airport located in Kathmandu. It is one of the business airports that handles almost all international flights while also serving domestic air travel across the country. The Tribhuvan International Airport has been serving both the international and domestic passengers since 1955 AD.

Pokhara International Airport

The Pokhara International Airport is a newly opened international airport that aims to attract international and domestic travelers in Pokhara. The purpose of Pokhara International Airport is to connect major international destinations directly with Pokhara, as it is a hub for major trekking destinations like Annapurna, Mardi, and other locations.

Gautam Buddha International Airport

Gautam Buddha International Airport is also known as Bhairahawa Airport. It is the second international airport of Nepal. Along with international operations, the airport is also popular for domestic operations, where several flights are operated to connect major destinations in Nepal. Located in Bhairahawa, the Gautam Buddha International Airport serves as a religious hub that aims to connect the birthplace of Buddha with the entire world.

List of Domestic Airports in Nepal

While the international airports of Nepal also serve domestic passengers, there are many other domestic airports in Nepal that serves passenger and tourists in Nepal. We provide the list of some popular domestic airports of Nepal below:

Biratnagar Airport

Biratnagar airport is located in Koshi Province, which aims to connect eastern Nepal with Kathmandu and other parts of the country. The primary purpose of Biratnagar is to serve business, industrial, and regional travel.

Bharatpur Airport

Bharatpur Airport is one of the major domestic airports that connect Chitwan, a tourist and religious destination, with Kathmandu and other major cities of Nepal. The airport serves as the quickest hub that services regional travel and tourists visiting Chitwan National Park and major religious sites nearby, like Devghat, Valmiki Ashram, and many more.

Tenzing-Hillary (Lukla) Airport

Tenzing-Hillary Airport, or Lukla Airport is a popular airport that serves as a gateway to the Mount Everest. The airports’ main purpose is to serve adventure tourism in Nepal. Lukla Airport has gained worldwide popularity for being the most extreme airport with short runway at steep slopes uphill that ends in a cliff or mountain. Landing and takeoff from the Lukla airport are adventures in themselves, as they combine a sense of thrill and challenging runway conditions.

How Airports Support Travel in Nepal

As a landlocked and mountainous country, airports of Nepal have an important role beyond transferring passengers from one destination to another. International airports are the backbone of the country’s tourism, foreign workers, cultural, and trade exchange. They are essential for the international visitors, pilgrims, and business travelers the country receives.

Domestic airports are often the only means of access to the mountainous areas which may be blocked for days during the rainy season or cold winter. Airports like Lukla and Biratnagar facilitate medical emergency evacuations, disaster response, and supply transport. For trekkers and adventure travelers, the domestic flights are a huge time-saver and make the difficult destinations much more accessible.

Both international and domestic airports play an important role in economic development and tourism promotion and facilitate civil services provision in landlocked and mountainous countries like Nepal.

Conclusion

International and domestic airports plays crucial role in connecting Nepal with global and regional travel destinations. From airports like Tribhuvan International Airport to remote Lukla Airport, they serve with purpose of connecting places and people. These airports arethe backbone of the nation that helps travelers to explore quickly, safely, and efficiently. For further information about air travel or travel to major cities or remote locations of Nepal, book your flights quickly and securely with Flights Nepal.