Heliport Services Starts in Nalinchowk, Shifted from Tribhuvan International Airport

Helicopters are the most efficient air transport for a country like Nepal which has a diverse and difficult terrains. Twelve operators currently own and operate around 40 helicopters in Nepal.

With the increasing demand for helicopter services, traffic at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu has significantly risen. To address this, authorities built a new heliport at Nalin Chowk, Bhaktapur, to meet demands and regulate traffic.

 All the heliport services have been shifted to Bhaktapur from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).  Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) started work for this heliport in the fiscal year 2022/2023. And the heliport is in operation for all helicopter related flights.

Helicopters serve different purposes in Nepal. In Travel & Tourism they are used for up close and personal flights to scenic mountains like Everest, Annapurna, Gosainkunda etc. They are also used in rescue operations, adventure activities like Skydiving over mountains and transport of essential goods to rural areas of Nepal and for emergency health operations. During the peak season; March – May & September – November, Helicopters are mainly focused on rescue operations from different mountains, transportation of the climbing equipments, Mountain experience flights, and similar adventure activities.

Built in an area of 33 ropanis (1.68 hectare), with the capacity to accommodate 17 helicopters at a time. This heliport aims to reduce the congestion and ease pressure of Air traffic during the peak tourist season.

A communication network has also been built to reduce the pressure of the TIA communication systems as well.

The estimated drive from Thamel to the heliport is about half an hour per way covering a distance of 40 Kilometers.

With the relocation of the Heliport services, it is believed to have smoothened the operations of the flights and provided an enhanced experience for the tourists visiting Nepal.