Tribhuvan International Airport to Close Overnight for Expansion Upgrades Until March 2025

KATHMANDU — Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu will implement overnight closures starting today and continuing until March 31, 2025, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). These restrictions will allow for significant upgrades as part of the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project, funded with an investment of Rs 15 billion.

The closure will affect all flights from 10 PM to 8 AM each day. Previously, TIA operated from 6 AM until 2 AM, but with the project underway, operations will shift to accommodate the extensive work being done. This will include expanding the parallel taxiway on the airport’s southwest side, the international apron to the north, and the hangar apron on the east side.

During the construction period, a 6-hour and 50-minute duty schedule will be implemented, with staff working in three shifts to support the project’s needs while still handling essential operations. Only a limited team will be on-site overnight to respond to emergencies, while other staff will be reassigned to different tasks.

Project Head Dipendra Shrestha emphasized that these closures are essential to ensure safety while maintaining construction momentum. This expansion aims to address long-standing congestion issues at TIA, which remains Nepal’s primary and oldest international gateway.

With TIA’s current limitations, the need for capacity and efficiency improvements has become urgent, especially as Nepal now operates two additional international airports, Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport, established more than seven decades after TIA. The upgrades are expected to modernize Nepal’s aviation infrastructure, helping TIA handle an increasing number of travelers safely and efficiently in the future.

Construction work will include developing a new parking lot, taxiways, and hangar spaces, which will further improve air traffic flow and parking capacity, making TIA better equipped for future demand.

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