Legendary Airports · Nepal
Nepal’s Extreme Mountain Airports
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Imagine a runway shorter than many ski jumps, tilted uphill, with a stone wall and a mountainside at the top end and a drop into a valley at the bottom. That’s Lukla, the airport most visitors to Mount Everest fly into. And it’s only the best known of Nepal’s mountain airstrips.
Nepal is one of the most mountainous countries on earth. For many villages, an airstrip carved into a hillside is the only practical link to the rest of the country. Roads can take days, if they exist at all. The result is a network of tiny, high-altitude airports that pilots around the world talk about with respect.
Lukla: built on a slope on purpose
Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla sits at about 2,845 metres. Its runway is just 527 metres long and climbs at an 11.7% gradient. The slope is part of the design. Landing uphill slows the aircraft down quickly, which helps on such a short strip. Taking off downhill helps it gather speed before the runway ends at the valley edge.
There’s one big catch. Once an aircraft is committed to landing, there’s nowhere to go around: the mountain is straight ahead. So pilots have to get the approach right the first time, in valley weather that can change within minutes. The airport was renamed in 2008 after Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climbers confirmed on Everest’s summit. Hillary helped build the original airstrip.
The real numbers
Lukla in figures
527m
Runway length
Shorter than many ski jumps
11.7%
Uphill gradient
Landings uphill, take-offs downhill
2,845m
Elevation
About 9,334 feet
STOL only
Aircraft
Twin Otter, Dornier 228, L-410, helicopters
The aircraft that make it possible
Big jets could never use these strips. Instead, Nepal’s mountain flying relies on STOL aircraft, short for short take-off and landing. The best known is the de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, a rugged twin-engined turboprop that can land and stop in a remarkably short distance. The Dornier 228 and the Czech-built Let L-410 do similar work. Helicopters fill the gaps, especially for rescues and cargo.
Thin air makes all of this harder. At nearly 3,000 metres, wings generate less lift and engines produce less power than at sea level, so aircraft need more speed and more runway, exactly what these strips lack. That’s why loads are carefully limited and why the aircraft chosen for these routes are built for the job.
Not just Lukla
Nepal has several other airports that are just as demanding in their own ways:
- Jomsom (2,736m): in the Kali Gandaki valley in Mustang, one of the deepest gorges on earth, with a 739m runway. Strong winds funnel up the valley later in the day, which is why flights operate in the morning.
- Simikot (2,818m): in the far northwest, with a runway of about 549m. A gateway for treks toward Tibet and Mount Kailash.
- Juphal (2,503m): the airstrip for remote Dolpa, with a runway of about 560m on a hillside.
What passengers should know
Delays and cancellations are normal here and shouldn’t be a surprise. Flights depend on the weather in the mountains, not just at the departure airport, and morning departures are the most reliable. Trekkers usually build a spare day or two into their plans for exactly this reason.
These airports have had accidents over the years, which is why their rules are strict: specific training for pilots, weather limits, weight limits and daylight operations. For the communities they serve, though, they’re essential, and for the passengers lucky enough to see the Himalayas from a Twin Otter’s window, unforgettable.
Sources & Further Reading
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Lukla airport considered so difficult?
Its runway is only 527 metres long, slopes 11.7% uphill and ends at a mountainside, at an elevation of about 2,845m. There is no room for a second attempt once an aircraft is committed to landing, and the weather in the valley changes fast.
What aircraft fly to Lukla?
Only helicopters and small short-take-off-and-landing (STOL) aircraft such as the de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, the Dornier 228 and the Let L-410.
Why do mountain flights in Nepal leave so early?
Mornings usually bring calmer air and clearer views. As the day warms, winds in the valleys strengthen and clouds build, which is why many mountain flights are scheduled early and often delayed or cancelled later in the day.
Is there another way to reach the Everest region?
Yes. Trekkers can travel by road and walk in over several extra days, and helicopters fly into the region. In busy seasons some Lukla flights also depart from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu.
What is the Tenzing-Hillary name about?
Lukla airport was renamed in 2008 to honour Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climbers confirmed to reach the summit of Everest, in 1953. Hillary was involved in building the original airstrip.