Pokhara International Airport - New Airport in Nepal | Yeti Air Crash Facts

Plane Crash: ATR 72 seater crash near Pokhara International Airport.

At least 68 out of 72 people including 4 Flight crew are confirmed to have died, officials said. This crash is not at the new Pokhara Regional International Airport, the old airport.

Some Facts about the Pokhara Crashed Plane:

Date: January 15, 2023. 10:50 ( Nepal Time)
Location: Pokhara Nepal, Seti River Gorge.
Total Travellers: 72
Passengers: 68
Flight Crew: 4
Female: 25
Male: 37
Kids: 3
Child: 3
Foreigners: 15 ( 5 Indian, 4 Russian, 1 Irish, 1 French, 1 Australian, 2 South Korean, 1 Argentinian).
Nepalese: 53
Airlines: Yeti Airlines ( YT ) since April 2019
Age: 15.5 Years
Flight Reg: 9N-ANC
First Flight: Kingfisher Airlines August 2007
Previous Operator: Investec ( South Africa ) and Nok Air ( Thailand ).
Flight Type: Avions de Transport Regional ( ATR-72-500 ),  is an Italian-Franco aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Blagnac, France.
Engine Type: Twin-Turboprop.

Pokhara International Airport is under construction to get a permanent solution of a single airport to Kathmandu International Airport. Problems like air traffic, parking congestion, and old technology is synonym to the only International airport of Kathmandu. In short, Pokhara Regional International airport will be the beginning of a new era of the aviation industry.

Pokhara International Airport is inaugurated on January 1, 2023. All the Flight Between Urban Sector like Kathamndu and Chitwan is now operating from this new airport. But the rural flight like Jomsom, Manang, Dolpo along with Helicopter and Ultra-light flight is operating from old airport. 
However we are stil waiting for some international airlines announcement to open their flights to Pokhara International Airport.

Two international airports, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Neejgadh International airport, are pride projects of the Nepal Government. CAAN and Nepal Government also aim to complete and operate Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini by the end of March 2021.

Although Pokhara Regional International airport was targeted to be complete on July 10, 2021, under the plan of the national pride project, the time has been extended till July 10, 2022, due to problems in completing the construction work on time due to Covid-19 second wave and possible third one, said project chief V. Munakarmi.
Date: August 8, 2021.

New International Airport of Pokhara Is An Alternative to Kathmandu

Besides this newly constructed Pokhara International Airport, there is already one small domestic airport. Nepal Government is making this Pokhara International Airport in Gandaki province. It lies just 3 km east of the current domestic airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) acquired 155 Hectors of land in 1975 from locals. However, the total area of Pokhara Intl Airport will be 200 plus Hector by its completion.

This airport will have one 45-meter wide and a 2500-meter long runway. So Pokhara International Airport will handle jets like Airbus A320 and Boing 737s with sufficient parking spaces, terminals, and hangars. There will be less air traffic at Tribhuvan International Airport after the Pokhara Regional International Airport operation. Tourists will now have an option to land either in Kathmandu, Pokhara, or Lumbini from international flights.

.To welcome the international tourist directly to Pokhara, Honorable Prime Minister KP Oli laid the foundation stone three years ago. The target to finish this and hand this project to the Nepal Government is in July 2021. So, the construction worker has been working continuously to meet the deadline, even in the period of Coronavirus lockdown. The workers are working hard to complete 92% of the work by 2020. In the same vein, the rest 8% by 2021 September, and get ready for the operation of Pokhara International Airport. It will help thousands of trekkers and travelers skip the crowded sky and land of Kathmandu. It will also help to contribute to economic and social development as well as promote tourism.

Construction and Funding of the New airport of Pokhara

To build this mega project in Pokhara, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal handed this project to Chinese CAMC Engineering. In may 2014, CAMC and Nepal Tourism Ministry sign the contract. However, the construction begins in 2016 April. CAMC Engineer Company got a contract from CAAN for airport engineering, procurement, and construction. In addition, EXIM Bank of China provided a $215.96 million loan with an agreement with the Nepalese Ministry of Finance. After all the procedures, the construction started in July 2016. This airport project has created much employment during construction, which goes further even after the operation phase. As per the latest work progress reports from the Civil Aviation Department, over 62% of the project is already completed.

Finally, all national and international travelers will get benefits with the completion of this Pokhara International Airport. And will have the option to land in Pokhara Instead of busy transit in Kathmandu as Pokhara is one of the major tourist destinations. Indeed, this will serve as an aerial gateway to the most popular Annapurna region trekking

Which are The Best Trekking From Pokhara Airport

Pokhara is the second biggest city in Nepal after the capital city of Kathmandu. Similarly, the natural beauty of Pokhara with a variety quality of Himalayas, Lakes, Valleys, Forest, and center of Adventure activities make Pokhara Best City.

Manaslu Trekking Region surrounds them in the Northeast, Mustang, and Annapurna Trekking Area on the North. Likewise, Dhorpatan and Baglung on the west make Pokhara a center for trekking in Nepal. After the operation of Pokhara International Airport, it will be easier for you to complete the many trekking in Nepal in your short time. Here is some Best Short trekking from Pokhara, and around that, every trekker will benefit from Pokhara Airport.

16 Best Trekking From Pokhara International Airport

1. Short ABC Trek ( Short ABC Trekking ) - 5 Days ABC Trek is the Best Seller.

2. Annapurna Base Camp Trekking - 10 Days

3. Short Mohare Danda Community Trek - 4 Days, 5 Days, and 6 Days from Pokhara.

4. Poon Hill Trek - 2 Days, 3 Days, and 4 Days

5. Annapurna Circuit Trekking - 10 Days

6. Ghorepani Ghandruk Trek - 4 Days

7. Ghandruk Dhampus Trek - 3 Days

8. Mardi Himal Trek - 5 Days

9. Sarangkot Short Trek - 4 Days

10. MShort Manaslu Circuit Trek - 10 Days

11. Nar Phu Valley Short Trek - 11 Days

12. Upper Mustang Short Trek with Jeep Drive - 10 Days, known as Best Short Trek in Restrict Category.

13. Muldai View Trek - 4 Days, from Pokhara.

14. Khopra Trekking - 5 Days.

15. Annapurna Glacier Trek - 9 Days

16. Panchase Trekking - 5 Days

Some Facts of New International Airport of Nepal

• The construction of the Pokhara International airport was started in April 2016 after 40 years of corrupt planning since 1976.
• It is expected to be completed in 2021, costing US$ 305 million, and was construed by china CAMC Engineering.
• The airport will have 2500 meters concrete runway with a parallel taxiway that can accommodate medium-range jets like Airbus 320s and Boeing 747/757s
• The parking bay will be able to handle up to 5 narrow-body aircraft.
• Pokhara Regional international Airport will have two terminals with an area of 14,000 square meters.
• The first one is domestic with 6000 square meters, and the second is International with 8,000 square meters, which will handle one million passengers annually.
• So far, works like a runway, taxi parking, terminal building, apron have been completed.

It is unclear if the Pokhara International Airport will introduce new air routes, destinations, or flights that the Kathmandu international airport lacked or only take 20% of Tribhuvan International Airport in/outbound flights.

New Airport of Gandaki, Nepal is the Habitat of Vulture and Eagle

As the news of Kantipur Daily on September 10, 2020, the construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport continues. However, new challenges arise from the birds like vultures and eagles. Various bird conservation groups working around the Pokhara and Lekhnath warn the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and Pokhara International Management Committee to develop effective plans to solve this problem. Ultimately this helps airport management to stop future unforeseen incidents. Birds Conservation leader further adds that two rivers Frushe Khola on the south of the airport and Bijayapur River on the East, are the best habitat for these carnivorous big endangered birds. These rivers carry lots of dead animals from far away, which works them as food providers.

Pokhara International Airport Completion Get Delay: News Update July 7, 2021

Online news of Nepal mentions that on July 6, 2021, it will take another six months to complete the construction of Pokhara International Airport. However, it comes under the national price project.

Previously it was paan to complete by mid-July 2021 but could not achieve the mentioned timeframe due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Deputy Manager of Pokhara International Airport Project said the delay is due to the second wave of Covid-19 as Nepal apply 72 days of nationwide lockdown in April-June. However, the work was not in halt but the number of workers down to 200 from 500. To complete the project on time, we need 300 Chinese technical workforce, but we all his out of control due to the Covid-19 second wave. Currently, 160 Chinese technical crew are at the job.

As the report of June, Pokhara International Airport, only 94% of physical work is finished, which was 92% in December 2020. To date, the work section of Taxi Parking, terminal, apron, and runway is completed. However, Pokhara International Airport’s delay means it will push its completion to March 2022.

TIMELINE: UPDATE

• Starting in 1976, to acquired 155 Hectors of land.
• A loan from EXIM Bank of China was $215.96 million.
• Contract signed between Nepal Government and CAMC Engineering in 2014.
• Physical work starts in 2016 July.
• 62% of Physical construction was completed by July 28, 2020.
• One of the Pride projects of the Nepal Government.
• Less affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus global pandemic and lockdown.
• The second wave of Covid-19 push the completion of Pokhara Airport 6 months late.
• By the end of June 2021, only 92% of jobs is completed, which was 90% in December 2020.
• The new completion date is March 2022.
• Due to travel restrictions from China, the timeline was not achieved in time. However, 98% of jobs are completed by August 10, 2022.
• As per the cabinet decision of 6 August 2022, Pokhara international airport is set to inaugurate on New Year 2023. This decision was made jointly with the operating team of the Civil Aviation Association of Nepal. CAAN also make the decision to operate only the narrow body flight that will land in this New International Airport of Pokhara, Nepal.

Although Pokhara Regional International airport was targeted to be completed on July 10, 2021, under the plan of the national pride project, the time has been extended till July 10, 2022, due to problems in completing the construction work on time due to Covid-19 second wave and the possible third one, said project chief V. Munakarmi.

New International Airport of Pokhara in Conclusion

No limits to this; juggle in between Annapurna Trekking Region, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu Himalayas trekking that you can start from Pokhara. Above all, with the operation of Pokhara International Airpot, new trekking destinations will rise along with the above popular treks. In short, Pokhara International Airport does not only help you to travel straight here but also helps the Nepalese economy and Tourism activities.