<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Pokhara International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The concept of constructing an international airport in Pokhara was first developed in 1971. In 1976,</p>
<p class="blog-para">the Government of Nepal acquired land for that purpose. In 1989, the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a study regarding the construction of the airport. The project stalled, however, and was reinitiated in 2009, when a new agreement on air travel between India and Nepal was signed. In 2013, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal signed an agreement with China CAMC Engineering for the construction of the airport.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The construction started in April 2016 and was expected to be completed after five years in 2021, with a cost of around US$305 million, out of which The Export-Import Bank of China provided around US$215 million preferential loan to Nepal and provided part of loan interest to lower the total loan interest. Further, the Asian Development Bank provided US$37 million in loans and grants and the OPEC Fund for International Development provided a US$11 million loan.</p>
<p class="blog-para">In April 2016, then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone of the airport, with the aim of beginning operations at the airport on 10 July 2021. In 2020, it was proposed to open both new international airports of Nepal, Pokhara and Gautam Buddha Airport, on the same day. In 2020, it was revealed that the close-by Rithepani Hill to the eastern end of the runway would need to be flattened to ease aircraft approach to the airport. This decision was delayed due to severe protests by locals. The flattening did not start until late 2022.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, in 2021, the construction deadline was extended until 2022. In October 2021, officials confirmed that the airport would open in two steps: domestic flights will begin in January 2022, while international flights will begin in April 2022.</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">Facilities Pokhara International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The airport is built to the category 4D standard, set by the ICAO, IATA, and FAA.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong> Apron</strong></p>
<p class="blog-para">The apron of the airport can handle up to three narrowbody aircraft with two aerobridges, while the aprons at the domestic terminal are capable of accommodating up to four ATR-72 or Bombardier Q400 type and four Beechcraft 1900 or de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter type small aircraft.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Runway </strong></p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport has a single 2,500 m (8,200 ft) long runway with a width of 45 metres (148 ft). It has an east-west orientation with a 330-metre (1,080 ft) runway strip. The airport has a concrete runway and has the markings of the centerline, edge, touchdown zone, and the threshold. The taxiway (1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) long and 23 metres (75 ft) wide) is built from the runway central line on the north side parallel to the runway.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Aids to navigation </strong></p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport features a 2,500-square-metre (27,000 sq ft) Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, operations building and an air navigation unit. There are two non-precision approaches available at the Pokhara Airport; VHF omnidirectional range along a distance measuring equipment (VOR/DME) and Required Area Navigation (RNAV/RNP). The airport is also equipped with a CAT-I ILS system, which includes equipment such as the localizer and the glide path to help aircraft in navigation.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Aircraft Maintenance </strong></p>
<p class="blog-para">Buddha Air plans on constructing a hangar that can accommodate aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A319. The airport will also feature a 6,000-square-metre (65,000 sq ft) domestic and international hangar.</p>
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<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="Pokhara  Airport" src="../../main/img/airport/pok/1.webp" alt="Pokhara Airport" width="950px" height="500px"></p>