Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is on track to enhance its operational capacity with the ongoing expansion and upgradation work achieving 60 percent progress.

With this, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to reduce the daily closure hours to six hours (midnight to 6 am) from April 1. Currently, the airport is closed for eight hours (11 pm to 7 am) to facilitate the project works. 

The expansion project began on Nov 8 with a completion target of March 31. The reduction in flight numbers during the peak tourist season sent ticket prices soaring. Although CAAN had requested airline companies to operate some flights to the international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara, airlines showed reluctance citing a lack of business. 

Before that, the TIA was in operation for 21 hours a day from 6 am till 3 am. 

CAAN is implementing Rs 15bn expansion works with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank. Under the expansion plan, a  taxiway is being built parallel to the runway. According to CAAN, 45 percent of the work on the parallel taxiway has been completed so far. Once operational, the parallel runway is expected to boost TIA’s capacity as it would reduce runway occupancy time by approximately 22.5 percent.

The first section of the taxiway (1,140 meter long) is being built on the runway’s southern end which will connect the existing international apron to the end of Runway 02 towards Koteshwar. Similarly, another 450-metre parallel taxiway is being built at the northern end to connect the international apron to the end of Runway 20. 

Likewise, the work on building an international apron (north) to ease aircraft congestion has achieved 65 percent progress. This new facility will have parking space for 18 aircraft. Similarly, hangar apron (east), which will provide expanded facilities for aircraft maintenance, has achieved 35 percent physical progress.

TIA, which is designed to handle 2-3m passengers annually, saw over 4.5m passengers in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for expansion. The existing 1,900-meter parallel taxiway for the 3,374-meter runway has struggled to accommodate growing traffic. CAAN officials say the new parallel taxiway, positioned 172.5 meters from the runway, along with 18 additional parking aprons, will reduce the need to keep aircraft on a holding pattern.