We will fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, a little settlement at the base of Mount Everest, in 30 to 40 minutes. The entrance to the Everest region is at Lukla Airport, one of the most hazardous airports in the world. This little airport in Lukla, Nepal, also goes by the name Tenzing Hillary Airport. It has a condensed runway. However, during the busiest times, up to 50 planes might take off and land here each day.

Getting to Lukla Airport

The other options for getting to Lukla involve a day and a half-long bus travel. In order to shorten the time, trekkers typically fly to Lukla and start their journey from there.The historic airport in Lukla is distinctive because local villagers actively contributed to its construction rather than the Nepalese government. Sir Edmund Hillary, who first ascended Mount Everest alongside Tenzing Sherpa, thought it took a long time to get to the trailhead. In actuality, the local villagers' active involvement and effort made it all possible.

The unpredictability of the weather seems to be a challenge for Lukla airport. There are often cancellations of flights, mainly when the weather is poor. Additionally, Lukla Airport lacks cutting-edge technology like radar systems and flight navigation. Here, the weather can change drastically in a couple of minutes. Clouds can soon accumulate, drastically reducing visibility. Due to the low air pressure, handling an airplane in an airport at an altitude like Luka poses risks. Evidently, planes from Kathmandu to Lukla only take off in the early morning hours when the sky is clear.

Lukla Airport  and History :

A number of accidents have occurred at Lukla Airport in the past as a result of the airport's small runway, erratic weather patterns, and uneven landscape. Since there is no navigational technology, the takeoff and landing are done visually by the pilots. Under Visibility Flight Rules (VFR), the airport is frequently abruptly closed when visibility is lost. The probability of crashing is increased by the erratic weather and the thickening fog on the short runway.

On the other hand, if the weather is good, the flight to Lukla is exciting and captivating. On a beautiful, sunny day, the magnificent flight from Kathmandu to Lukla enriches every traveler's soul with the true meaning of the word "natural magnificence." The Himalayas' magnificent mountain views and colorful sceneries will warmly welcome you!

Safety standards for Lukla flights

Flights from Kathmandu to Lukla to Kathmandu often depart in the early morning, or when the sky is clear. And when the strong south-west winds produce crosswinds or tailwinds, the airport frequently closes from mid- to late morning. Pilots must adhere to strict guidelines imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in order to successfully land an aircraft. Only experienced pilots who have performed at least 100 short takeoff and landing (STOL) flights can meet these requirements. The pilots also need to have logged ten flights into Lukla with a licensed instructor.

Airlines to Lukla

Tara Airlines, Sita Air, and Summit Air are the airlines that fly between Kathmandu and Lukla. For a while now, Goma Airlines and Simrik Airlines have stopped operating to the Lukla airport. Tara Air, which was founded in 2009, operates planes from Yeti Airlines. Five Twin Otter DHC 6/300 and two Dornier DO 228 aircraft make up Tara Airlines' current fleet of seven STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) aircraft. The maximum number of passengers that these aircraft can transport at once.

Interesting facts about Lukla Airport

At peak hiking and climbing times, up to 50 planes can take off and land at Lukla airport.

In 2008, Lukla Airport was renamed Tenzing Hillary Airport in honor of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first climbers to successfully summit Mount Everest.

In addition to having a small runway, Lukla is one of the world's most hazardous airports due to its altitude and geographic position.

The Lukla airstrip is bordered on one side by a huge mountain wall and on the other by a steep drop into a valley below.The only way to get to Lukla from Kathmandu before the airport's construction was to drive to Jiri and then climb for around five days to reach Lukla.

Lukla Airport was established in 1964, but it took until 1971 for operations to begin. Black-top pavement didn't start until 2001.The short runway at Lukla Airport is 20 meters (65 feet) wide and 527 meters (1,729 feet) long overall. The airplane may have trouble landing and taking off as a result of this.

Additional unknown details regarding Lukla Airport.The small runway, which is essential for passage, is used by pedestrians to cross through either side of the runway.Sir Edmund Hillary deserves the credit for creating Lukla Airport, not the Nepali government.The airport is where it is today because the local farmers refused to give up their flat farmlands. For $2,650, Edmund Hillary paid the local Sherpas to give him the property where the current airport is located.

Sir Edmund Hillary was able to build the airport with the help of Sherpa individuals, who are well-known for their mountaineering abilities.For takeoffs and landings, the Lukla airport does not use a radar or aviation navigation system. Instead, radio communication is used.

The History Channel's Most Extreme Airports show has rated Lukla Airport as the most dangerous airport in the world for more than 20 years.The weather at the airport in Lukla is erratic. There are situations when passengers must disembark the aircraft just before takeoff.

Is it risky to fly to Lukla?

The one question that can pop into your head after learning all the information regarding the airport in Lukla is "Is flying to Lukla really risky? "The quick answer is, of course, "Yes"! However, based on historical data, it is not as harmful as one may think. Given the geology, weather, location, size, and volume of traffic, Lukla can be considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world. It is also true that Lukla Airport's short runway contributes to the extreme.

The erratic weather is the one thing that makes Lukla Airport worrisome. Otherwise, it's completely safe to fly to Lukla. Only helicopters and tiny fixed-wing propeller planes are able to land at and take off from Lukla Airport due to a variety of issues. Overall, visiting areas like Lukla offers the genuine excitement of travel, thus it is worthwhile. Additionally, Lukla airport serves as the entrance for flights to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Ri. Unless you take a different route, this flight is almost impossible to avoid. Driving to Jiri, Phaplu, or Salleri are among of the alternate ways to Lukla that take longer.