Nepalgunj Airport (IATA: KEP, ICAO: VNNG) is a domestic airport serving Nepalgunj, in Banke District, a district in Lumbini Province in Nepal. There are plans by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to promote the airport to an international airport and establishing immigration, customs and quarantine facilities.[3]
Nepalgunj Airport | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Nepal | ||||||||||
| Operator | Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal | ||||||||||
| Serves | Nepalgunj, Nepal | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 518 ft / 158 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 28°06′13″N 081°40′01″E / 28.10361°N 81.66694°E | ||||||||||
| Website | http://airports.caanepal.gov.np/nepalgunj/ | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Nepalgunj Airport Location of airport in Nepal | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
History
editThe airport has been in service since 1961.[4] In land area it is the third largest airport in Nepal, after Dhangadhi Airport. It also has the second greatest number of aircraft and passenger movements. After the introduction of FK-100 jet aircraft, passenger movement at this airport increased by 13.39% in 2005 (up to November) against the figure in the year 2004.[citation needed]
In 2005, Flying Dragon Airlines set up its operating base at the airport, however the airline ceased to operate one year later.
Future developments
editSince 2018, the airport is being upgraded to serve as an international airport, as Buddha Air is preparing to start direct flights to Delhi. There are plans to construct a new international terminal with separate customs facilities as well as extending the runway.[5][6]
Facilities
editThe airport is at an elevation of 540 ft (165 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 08/26 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,504 m × 30 m (4,934 ft × 98 ft).[7]
Airlines and destinations
editStatistics
editPassenger numbers
edit| Passengers[15] | |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 165,867 |
| 2015 |  176,372
|
| 2016 | 233,533
|
| 2017 | 369,355
|
| 2018 | 426,661
|
| 2019 | 453,433
|
References
edit- ^ Airport information for VNNG from CAA Nepal (effective January 2023)
- ^ Airport information for Nepalgunj (Nepalganj), Nepal (VNNG / KEP) at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- ^ "Buddha Air plans ATR 72 Nepalgunj-Delhi service". The Kathmandu Post. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "About Airport". Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Buddha Air Nepalgunj-Delhi flight initiation delays". Aviation Nepal. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ "Nepalgunj Airport expedites upgrading to regional international airport". Aviation Nepal. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Airport information for VNNG[usurped] from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
- ^ "Buddha Air Flight Routes". Buddha Air. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Domestic Schedule". Nepal Airlines. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Scheduled flights". Saurya Airlines. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ "Flight Schedule". Sita Air. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ "Summit Air Winter Schedule". Summit Air. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "Flight Schedule". Tara Air. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Scheduled flights". Yeti Airlines. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ "Nepalgunj Airport" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 1 June 2018.