Tribhuvan International Airport

Tribhuvan International Airport (Nepali: त्रिभुवन अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विमानस्थल) (, colloquially referred to as TIA) is an international airport located in Kathmandu, Bagmati Pradesh, Nepal. It is operating with a tabletop runway, one domestic and an international terminal. As a sole international airport, it connects Nepal to over 40 destinations in 17 countries. 
The airport is a hub for two international airlines, the flag carrier Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, along with several other domestic and regional carriers. The airport is considered as a starting point for Mount Everest tourists, with several daily flights to Lukla. Several airlines also offer Everest sightseeing flights out of Kathmandu.
Due to heavy traffic congestion, winter fog and the airport running out of its full capacity, the Government of Nepal has commenced the construction of the Nijgadh International Airport in Bara, Province No. 2.
History.
The airport was originally named "Gauchaur Airport", after the area of Kathmandu where it was situated. In Nepali, 'Gauchaur' refers to a place where cows graze. The formal beginning of aviation in Nepal occurred in 1949, with the landing of a Beechcraft Bonanza carrying the Indian ambassador. However, there are claims that there is evidence that Simara Airport existed in some form as early as 1946 and would therefore be the oldest airport in Nepal - this fact is, however, disputed.
The first charter flight took place between Gauchaur and Calcutta, in a Himalayan Aviation Dakota on 20 February 1950. 
On 20 February 1949, an Indian registered Dakota DC-3 commenced the first ever scheduled service, linking Kathmandu to Patna, Kolkata and Delhi. 
In 1950, King Tribhuvan took refuge at the Indian embassy in an attempt to overthrow the Rana dynasty. Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, the four-year-old grandson of Tribhuvan was crowned the new king. On 10 November 1950, two Indian planes landed at Gauchaur Airport and carried the young king along with his grandfather to Delhi. After the Delhi Accord, the Rana regime ended and King Tribhuvan landed at Gauchaur Airport as the monarch on 18 February 1951, bringing the waves of democracy in Nepal. 
In 1952, the first scheduled domestic flights commenced to Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, Pokhara and Simara. 
On 15 June 1955, the airport was inaugurated by King Mahendra and renamed Tribhuvan Airport in memory of the king's father. The airport was again renamed to "Tribhuvan International Airport" in 1964.
In 1957, the original grass runway 16/34 was re-laid in concrete. In 1964, the former runway 16/34 was abandoned for a newer runway 02/20. The new runway was extended from to with the joint effort of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the OPEC in 1975. The runway was re-strengthened in 1981.
In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II landed in a Dakota plane for her first visit to Nepal, one of the most high profile arrival at the airport. 
In 1967, Tribhuvan International Airport witnessed its first jet aircraft, a Lufthansa Boeing 707 and 1972, the Nepali flag carrier, Royal Nepal Airlines commenced jet operations from the airport with a Boeing 727. The same year, Nepali personnel took over air traffic services from the Indian personnel.
In 1985, the extension apron of the runway 02/20 was overlaid. Similarly, the development of the terminal building was commenced in the same year. In 1987, the construction of the Airlines Operation and Control Tower building was completed and the taxiway was overlaid. In the same year, on 11 October, Nepal witnessed the first ever landing of Concorde. In 1989, the construction of the terminal building was completed and on 18 February 1990, the newly built TIA complex were officially inaugurated by King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.
In 1992, Necon Air, Nepal's first private airline commenced the domestic operations from TIA with Hawker Siddeley HS 748.
In 1995, works started to expand the domestic terminal. Likewise, Amplitude modulation signalling system (AMSS) and very-small-aperture terminal (V-SAT) were also installed at the airport.
In 1997, airport surveillance radar (ASR) and secondary surveillance radar (SSR) came into the operation. The installation of radar surveillance was proposed by Japan in 1994, following the crash of Thai Airways Flight 311 and Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 in 1992, which claimed the lives of 280 people altogether; including the 17 high-level Japanese diplomats. On 9 September 1998, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala officially inaugurated the radars.
In May 2007, Austrian Airlines discontinued its flight to Vienna, Nepal's last direct air link to Europe. In September 2013, Turkish Airlines launched direct flights from Istanbul to Kathmandu, re-establishing Nepal's connection with continental Europe.
In August 2013, the airport's only runway had to be closed for wide-body aircraft because the runway, which was in disrepair, could no longer withstand their weight.
In 2020, the runway was extended to , the departure hall was expanded to accommodate 1500 more passengers, the arrival area was extended to a lower level and the immigration hall was facelifted.
Facilities.
Apron.
The international apron at TIA can handle up to 15 aircraft, although only three can support wide-body category aircraft. There is also a bay at the eastern side of the airport that can hold two wide-body and two ATR 72 or similar type of aircraft. The eastern bay is used solely to park disabled or non-operational airplanes. Two new international aprons are under-construction to the south of the existing aprons.
The aprons at the domestic terminal have been accommodating up to 35 aircraft, despite its allowable capacity of only 17. The helipad at TIA can handle up to 17 helicopters.
Runway.
The airport has a single runway with a slope of 1.2% oriented at 02/20. There is no instrument landing system available. The bitumen runway with the strength of PCN 54F/A/W/T has the markings of the centerline, edge, touchdown zone and the threshold. The runway is equipped with high intensity centerline lights, bidirectional raised edge lights, the threshold lights and the runway end lights. Precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights (3°) are installed as landing aids for the both runways 02/20. The runway has five intersections with the taxiways. The taxiway G runs parallel to the runway but it doesn't connect the thresholds.
Aids to Navigation.
There are two non-precision approach available at the Kathmandu Airport; VHF omnidirectional range along a distance measuring equipment (VOR/DME) and Required Area Navigation (RNAV/RNP). A high intensity extended centerline lights are installed at the southern end of the airport to assist with the approach.
Terminals.
The airport has two public terminals, one for international and one for domestic traffic. A terminal for VIP guests is also operated by the Government of Nepal, where international state guests are welcomed. There are plans to construct a separate terminal for helicopter transportation.
Radisson Hotel Kathmandu operates an executive lounge for first and business class passengers for several airlines and Thai Airways operates a lounge for its business-class passengers, as well as Star Alliance Gold card holders.
Aircraft Maintanance.
Nepal Airlines operates a large hangar between the international and domestic terminals. There are plans to upgrade and move this facility to the eastern side of the airside. Buddha Air operates a closed door hangar facility, which can accommodate narrow-body aircraft at the eastern side of the airport.
Location and access.
Tribhuvan International Airport is located from Pashupatinath Temple and east of the city center and main tourist area Thamel. The nearest hotel is Airport Hotel located about from the airport gate.
The airport is connected to major parts of Kathmandu valley by the ring road.
Airlines and destinations.
Passenger.
Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Simrik Airlines, and Sita Air also provide daily mountain sightseeing flights or Mount Everest sightseeing flights out of Tribhuvan International Airport. They usually depart from the domestic terminal in the early morning hours and return to the airport one hour later.
The helicopter operators Air Dynasty, Manang Air, Prabhu Helicopter, Simrik Air, Shree Airlines and Fishtail Air offer helicopter operations out of their respective hubs at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Cargo.
In 2019, TIA handled a total of 10,572 tons of cargo.
Expansion.
According to the CAAN Aviation Report - 2017, Tribhuvan International will undergo expansions under Transport Project Preparatory Facility funded partly by the Asian Development Bank. Major works include:
Ground transportation.
Sajha Yatayat buses connect the airport's international terminal to Kathmandu's city centre, and Lalitpur's city centre. Buses from other local companies stop in front of the airport's main gate, 500 meters in front of the terminal buildings. Meter and prepaid taxis are available at both terminals at all hours.