Kathmandu, October 30

The second phase of upgradation of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is likely to be completed in the next three months.

As per the Civil Aviation Office of TIA, the upgradation work of TIA is now in the final phase and will be completed by January. As the construction is under way at the airport, both domestic and international flights are being delayed or cancelled frequently.

Issuing a notice today, TIA has assured that the second phase of airport upgradation will be completed by January.

Currently, the work of runway and taxiway rehabilitation, along with construction of two new parking bays, is ongoing. The airport rehabilitation as well as poor weather conditions have affected both domestic and international scheduled flights, as stated by the airport management.

“Due to construction and bad weather, we are unable to operate aircraft using visual flight rules (VFR). Hence, only aircraft operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) are being operated during this period,” reads the statement.

Airport officials said the construction was not affected during the festive season as well. The second phase work was started from September 1, aiming to complete it by December. Since September 1, the airport has been shut from 11:30pm to 6:30am.

As per the airport officials, both works related to upgradation as well as the boutique airport will be completed for the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign. The first phase of the upgradation was completed on June 30.

Along with this, the airport is being converted into an advertisement-free zone within a few months. The TIA management plans to add more than 50 wi-fi access points, especially in the waiting, departure and arrival areas in both domestic and international terminals to provide travellers free and unlimited internet access. Moreover, TIA also plans to add one civil service point, where travellers will be able to seek services related to passport, visa or orientation.

Around 400 flights, including 100 international flights, are being operated from TIA every day. With this upgradation, TIA management expects the air congestion problem to ease and the airport to be better managed.