Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is set to undergo a significant transformation with a runway extension project. To facilitate this ambitious undertaking, the airport will be closed for 10 hours daily, from 10 PM to 8 AM, for a period of five months, starting November 8th and concluding on March 31st, 2025.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has emphasized the necessity of this nighttime closure to expedite the runway expansion process. Director General Engineer Pradeep Adhikari explained that the monsoon season, coupled with the airport’s heavy traffic, makes daytime construction impractical.
The project aims to enhance the airport’s capacity by constructing a parallel taxiway. However, CAAN has urged the public to avoid linking this closure to the operations at Bhairahawa International Airport, as the current plan was formulated approximately eight months ago.
During the closure period, three construction companies will work simultaneously on various aspects of the project, including demolition, reconstruction, and connecting the new runway to the existing infrastructure. This comprehensive upgrade, costing a total of 15 billion rupees, is aligned with the airport’s master plan.
To further optimize airport operations, aircraft landing from the northern point towards Buddh has been prohibited since April 1st due to ongoing construction activities.
