Airport ​​​​Overview 

Pokhara International Airport (PIA) is situated at Chhine Danda, Pokhara in Gandaki Province, Nepal. It is located approximately 3 km east of Pokhara’s existing Domestic Airport and 200 km far west from Kathmandu. The elevation of this airport is around 800 m above mean sea level. This airport serves as the main gateway for pilgrims and tourists to travel to the famous religious places: Muktinath, Jomsom, and Annapurna Round Trek. The airport has three international parking bays and eight domestic parking bays. This airport has a 3500 m² terminal building for customs and cargo, but it lacks a cold storage facility. This storage area often remains unutilized due to the absence of regular scheduled international flights hence the shipment of temperature-sensitive and medical cargo should be planned carefully. 

Airport Picture 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

The key companies present at the airport are the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army.   

For more information on airport contacts, please see the following link: 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List. 

Information on some aviation service providers can be found at: http://www.azfreight.com/ and https://www.airportdata.com/ 

Airport Infrastructure Details 

The runway of PIA is of ICAO 4D Category and is 45 m wide and 2500 m long, and runway designation is 12-30. Runway 12 has a Non-Precision Approach (NPA), and Runway 30 has an ILS System Precision Approach CAT-1 (PA1) facility. 

Airport Operating Details 

Customs Guidance 

As of February 2024, despite the approval to establish a customs office from the Council of Ministers in Jan 2023, the government has not yet established a customs office at the Pokhara International Airport. For individual travellers, all baggage must be declared and cleared through customs on arrival at the port of entry. For the import of cargo, the importer must submit an application along with air waybill copies to the customs office for clearance of goods. Procedures and custom waiver process for relief items can be found in 1.3 Nepal Customs Information. 

For more information on customs in Nepal, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

Storage ​​Facilities 

This airport has a 3500 m² building for customs and cargo, with a yearly planned turnover of 2600 mt capacity, but it lacks a cold storage facility. Due to the absence of customs office followed regular scheduled international flights, this storage area often remains unutilized. Hence the shipment of temperature-sensitive and medical cargo should be planned carefully.  

Airfield Costs 

NAVIGATION CHARGES 

All fees except the passenger service charge and entrance fees should be paid by the commander of the aircraft or agent without demand before the aircraft departs from the aerodrome. For aircraft carrying out international flights, all payments of fees should be made in US dollars.  

13 % VAT is applicable for the above-mentioned charges. 

An additional charge will be levied for each landing made outside of the published operation hours of the aerodrome based on time used, on an hourly basis. For international flights, this amount is fixed as NRS 35,000 (excluding 13% VAT) per hour.  

Security Charges: Security charges at the rate of 10% of the landing fees as mentioned above shall be imposed.  

The following aircraft are exempted from payment of landing and parking fees:   

a) Foreign diplomatic aircraft engaged on diplomatic missions to Nepal.   

b) Aircraft withheld by Director General, CAAN for necessary investigation.   

c) Such other aircraft as the Director General, CAAN may approve.   

d) UN-registered Aircraft  

FUEL SERVICES CHARGES 

PIA manages refuelling service at the airport with support from Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), a fuel storage with a capacity of 114,000 litres is under construction at the airport premises. For the current use NOC fetches aviation fuel from its storage at Pokhara Domestic Airport on oil tankers. 
 

As of 01 February 2023  

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 132.814 NPR  

CARGO TERMINAL CHARGES 

On international flights cargo, NPR seventy-five paisa per kilogram is applicable. 

For more information on service rates and charges: 

(Source: PIA Cargo Service Charge)  

• In case of palletization and de-palletization of the goods NPR 50 per ton will be charged.   

• In case of a request from the goods owner to manage goods beyond office hours and during the holidays separate charge of NPR 200 per consignment will be levied.  

• Demurrage charge will be as follows. 

• Export: For the first seven days no charges are applicable, after 7 days for 30 days NPR 0.70 per kg will be charged and from 31 days to 60 days NPR 1.70 per kg will be charged, 

• Import:  For the first seven days no charges are applicable, after 7 days for 30 days NPR 2.00 per kg will be charged and from 31 days to 60 days NPR 2.50 per kg will be charged. Provided that, if the goods are not taken within the exempted period, demurrage charges shall be levied from the date of receipt of such goods. 

Security 

Among the three security forces of Nepal, the Nepal Army, and Nepal Police work in conjunction to provide security at Pokhara International Airport (PIA). Nepal Police has the responsibility to control access and searches for passengers and goods. Nepal Army has the responsibility to control and secure the premises of the PIA.