Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Lukla Airport)

Situated at an altitude of 2850 meters and surrounded by high mountains, Tenzing-Hillary Airport, commonly known as Lukla Airport (as it is located in Lukla), is the main airport of Solukhumbu.

It was officially opened in 1964 and was named after the two legendary climbers: Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first people to summit Mount Everest. Sir Edmund Hillary is the main person behind the birth of this airport. Initially, Hillary helped build this airport primarily for the purpose of transporting goods and materials for constructing various hospitals, clinics, schools, etc. in the Khumbu region. Later, it became accessible to tourists and locals alike.

As there are still no proper roads to get to Lukla, Lukla Airport remains the main gateway to the Everest region. It is the most common starting point for many treks around this region. The only other way to get to Khumbu, if flights are unavailable, is to trek for several days through rather unappealing and treacherous paths. Only a handful number of people choose to do that. Majority of them prefer to fly directly to Lukla and start their trek from there. This is true not just of tourists and foreigners but of locals as well. The local people too rarely opt to walk all the way to Lukla. In fact, helicopter rides to upper Khumbu regions are more common among both locals as well as foreigners than walking all the way to Lukla on foot.

The airport is infamous for being one of the most challenging airports in the world. Small size, short runway, high altitude, mountainous region, unpredictable weather and precarious location all combine to make this airport quite challenging for the pilots. Over the years, there have been several aviation accidents at this airport, resulting in injuries and fatalities. The most frequent issues stem from poor visibility, technical failure, pilot error, and the limitations of the runway. The adverse weather conditions in these regions also play a significant role in making this airport quite difficult. Since the weather in Lukla is fickle, flights often get delayed or cancelled, sometimes for multiple days. Poor visibility, fog, or snowstorms can prevent planes from safely landing or taking off. Moreover, due to the mountainous terrain, planes can only land without any much difficulties at Lukla during certain hours of the day, usually before afternoon. As the region is prone to excessive fog and low cloud cover, airplanes have difficulty landing or taking off from this airport after noontime.

Despite such risks and challenges, Lukla Airport still remains one of the busiest airports in Nepal. As trekking and tourism in Nepal has boomed over the years, the airport now handles thousands of passengers each year, particularly during the peak trekking seasons of spring and autumn. The high demand for flights during peak seasons often leads to overbooking, flight delays and cancellations. Therefore, if you are planning to fly to Lukla, you should try to book an early morning flight if possible. Also be prepared for possible delays or cancellations due to weather and other reasons. Have a flexible schedule and extra days at hand. Expect delays and cancellations in advance. Keep other options open: such as chartering a helicopter, traveling on foot, etc.