Nepal - 2.2.16 Tenzing-Hillary Minor Domestic Airport

Nepal - 2.2.16 Tenzing-Hillary Minor Domestic Airport

Airport Overview 

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Pic: Aerial view of Lukla Airport in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Municipality 

Lukla Airport also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is a small airport in the town of Lukla,  in Khumbu, Solukhumbu District, Koshi Province. It is 25 Kms NE of the District HQ with limited road access. It is within the premise of Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest and inside the buffer zone of Sagarmatha national park. It is one of the four airports (Kangel Danda Airport, Phaplu Airport and Syangboche Airport) in the district.  

It has been called one of the most dangerous airports in the world because of a combination of mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather and a very short and steep airstrip.  

Between Nepal Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Air and Tara Air, daily flights are scheduled all around the year. Flight cancellation because of the inclement weather is very common. 

The operation hours of the airport are as follows: 

16 Feb to 15 Nov 0600 hrs – 1845 hrs LT 

16 Nov to 15 Feb 0630 hrs – 1800 hrs LT 

 

Airport Location and Contact 

Country 

Nepal 

Province or District 

Koshi Province/  Solukhumbu 

Nearest Town or City  
with Distance from Airport 

Amidst Lukla Bazaar 

Airport’s Complete Name 

Tenzing-Hillary (Lukla) Airport  

Latitude 

27.68745 

Longitude 

86.73190 

Elevation (ft and m) 

9337 ft (2846 m) 

IATA Code 

LUA 

ICAO Code 

VNLK 

Managing Company or Airport Authority 

Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Tenzing-Hillary (Lukla) Airport  

Off: 977-38550197 

Tower: 977-38550044 

Fax: 977-38550197 

AFS VNLKYDYX 

tenzinghillary_cao@caanepal.org.np 

Management Contact Person 

 

NGO and/or UN Presence at Airport? 

NO 

Runway 

Runway #1 

Runway Dimensions 

1728 × 65 ft (527 × 20 m) 

Runway Orientation 

06 -  

24 -  

Runway Surface 

Asphalt Concrete 

Runway Condition 

Good  

Airport Infrastructure Details 

Infrastructure  

Passenger / Cargo Security Screening  

Metal Detector: Handheld, Walkthrough, CCTV 

Runway Lighting 

 

Refuelling Capacity 

No 

Ground Handling Services 

 

Air Traffic Control  

 

One Man Position Tower Console with Associated Equipment and Accessories 

Fire Fighting Equipment  

Ultra-high 

pressurize system 

fire vehicle and 

portable type fire 

extinguisher 

available. 

Weather Information 

AFIS, Tower Observation 

Aircraft Parking Space 

2800 sqm of concrete Apron, 4 D228 Type Aircraft 

Navigation Aids  

AFIS 

Perimeter Fencing  

 

Windsock  

 

 

 

 

Fuel Services Charges 

N/A 

Royalties / Non Objection Fees (NOFs) 

N/A