Biratnagar Airport
Biratnagar Airport विराटनगर विमानस्थल | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Nepal | ||||||||||
| Operator | Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal | ||||||||||
| Serves | Biratnagar, Nepal | ||||||||||
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| Elevation AMSL | 236 ft / 72 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 26°28′53″N 87°15′50″E / 26.48139°N 87.26389°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Biratnagar Airport Location of airport in Nepal | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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Biratnagar Airport (IATA: BIR, ICAO: VNVT) is a domestic airport located in Biratnagar serving Morang District, a district in Province No. 1 in Nepal.[1] Biratnagar Airport is the third busiest airport in Nepal after Kathmandu and Pokhara.[3] There are plans to upgrade the airport to serve international flights.[4]
History
Biratnagar Airport commenced operations on 6 July 1958.[5]
On 15 August 2017, during the August 2017 Nepal and India floods the runway of Biratnagar Airport was flooded, along with other parts of India and Nepal, and the airport was forced to suspend its operations.[6]
In 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal decided to upgrade the Biratnagar Airport to an international level, which includes lenghtning the runway.[7]
Facilities
The airport is located at an elevation of 236 feet (72 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 09/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,505 by 30 metres (4,938 ft × 98 ft).[1] The airport is one of the few airports in Nepal that has its own aviation fuel depot on site, enabling aircraft to refuel here during turnover periods.[8]
Airlines and destinations
Accidents and incidents
- 10 June 1973 – 1973 Nepal plane hijack: A Royal Nepal Airlines flight from Biratnagar to Kathmandu, operated by a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (9N-ABB), was taken over by three hijackers of the Nepali Congress party who demanded money and escaped after landing in Bihar, India. None of the three crew and 18 passengers were injured.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Airport information for VNVT Archived 6 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
- ^ Airport information for Biratnagar, Nepal (VNVT / BIR) at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- ^ "Biratnagar Airport" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "Biratnagar airport to be upgraded to international standard". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy". Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Biratnagar Airport shut down". The Himalayan Times. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ "विराटनगर विमानस्थललाई 'अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय स्तर' को बनाइने" [The Biratnagar Airport will be upgraded to at "International level".] (in Nepali). Kantipur Media Group. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Majority of airports in Nepal lack fuel depot facility". Aviation Nepal. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ "NEW DESTINATION ALERT!". Buddha Air. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ^ "Nepal Magazine Archived 2 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 18 November 2006.
