Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla

Lukla is a small village in the Everest region. It is the gateway to the Everest region. The entire trek to Mt. Everest and other points passes through this village. Lukla is popular for the Tenzing-Hillary Airport. Tenzing-Hillary airport Lukla lies in the village of Khumbu, which is popular as the Solukhumbu district. The Solukhumbu district is located in Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal.

Lukla is situated at an elevation of 2900 meters above sea level. A 600-meter drop-off cliff face on one end and a solid stone wall on the other enclose the Lukla airport. The runway of this Lukla airport is 9400 feet on top of a 2000-foot cliff. It is one of the world’s most dangerous airports due to its location and length.

Despite the inherent dangers of flying, the flight to Lukla is considered one of the most spectacular experiences. It is a lifetime experience, and doing Everest base camp without this feels like an incomplete adventure. The flight is 35 to 40 minutes from Kathmandu to Lukla unless there is any adverse weather. The breathtaking scenic flight above the snowcapped Himalayas is the highlight of the travel itself.

Lukla Airport in Lukla village

Lukla Airport is situated at 2860 meters. It is a small town/village at the foot of Mount Everest. The beautiful town is found in the northeast of Nepal. The village is well known as a place with many goats and sheep. It is also known as the trading of mountain products in the lower belt of Nepal, India, and Tibet. Lukla is the place buzzing with the joyful sound of excited adventure trekkers either getting ready to hit the trail or finishing their adventure. We can see many celebrating at pubs and hotels with a well-deserved beer or some other drinks. The luxurious, exciting Everest Base Camp yoga trek challenge starts with a flight to Lukla and ends with a flight off from Lukla.

Facts of Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla

1. Lukla Airport got its name from the Tenzing-Hillary Airport in 2008, after the names of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary. They are the first people to get to the top of the world’s highest mountain.
2. The fastest way to reach Lukla Airport from Kathmandu is a 35- to 40-minute flight by plane.
3. Sherpa people are well known for their mountaineering skills and were actively involved in the construction of Lukla airport.
4. The airport was built under the leadership of Sir Edmund Hillary in 1964.
5. The airport has a short runway with a length of 527 meters and 30 minutes, which causes difficulty in landing and takeoffs.
6. The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla offers stunning views of mountains, landscapes, and valleys. Indeed, it will be a scenic, world-class flight.
7. There would be at least 60+ flights every day during the prime trekking season, which makes the airport one of the busiest domestic airports in Nepal.
8. The plane to and from Lukla is tiny, so there are no fixed seats; therefore, travelers are recommended to sit on the left side when flying to Lukla. Similarly, you should sit on the right when traveling to Kathmandu. This trip will reward you with an incredible mountain view.
9. At Lukla Airport, there is no radar system, but there is a radio communication system for takeoff and landing.
10. The baggage allowance for this domestic flight is 15 kg, including hand luggage.
11. In 2010, the History Channel broadcast Lukla Airport as the world’s most dangerous airport.
12. The weather in Lukla frequently changes, making flight cancellations inevitable.

What makes Lukla Airport the most dangerous airport in the world?

Answer: The airport is dangerous because of the tiny runway. The airport’s high elevation above sea level is another contributing factor. Adverse weather conditions often make taking off and landing an excruciating experience. Since the origin, we have had only a few (3) fatal crashes. All these accidents happened due to bad weather. Considering that there are multiple daily flights between Kathmandu and Lukla, the numbers aren’t bad at all, making the airport pretty safe.

When is the best time to fly to Lukla?

Answer: As we all know, Lukla is a heartland of the Khumbu region. This is also known as the Everest region. People in massive numbers fly in and out every day during peak trekking season and expedition season. The weather of Lukla depends upon the season of the year. Autumn (Sep-Nov) and spring (Mar-May) are the best seasons to travel in this region. During this time, the skies get clear almost every day, so flights are on time and much less risky. There are fewer clouds, and the wind speed is also lower. We have excellent visibility for landing. The airport is also dry and relatively safe for landing. With this comfort and appealing environment, spring and autumn are definitively the best times to fly to Lukla and trek to Everest Base Camp.

What is the cost of a Lukla flight?

Answer: The Kathmandu to Lukla flight cost is only 180 USD per person. The 25-minute flight allows 10 kg of luggage along with 5 kg of hand carry. As for the Indian nationals, the flight costs only around 147 USD per person. The price goes up and down.

Is there any other way to get to Lukla?

Answer: If you are not a fan of flying or you want to keep it authentic, you can take a jeep or public bus from Kathmandu to Jiri and trek five to six days to reach Lukla. We also have other options, such as taking a Jeep to Salleri and trekking for 3 days to reach Lukla. We can also fly to Phaplu and trek three days to Lukla.

Is the Flight to Lukla Safe?

Answer: Despite being the most dangerous airport in the world, Lukla Airport safely carried out 50+ flights daily. This 50+ flight is during the peak trekking and expedition season. Almost more than half of the trekkers who visited Nepal annually tended to fly into Lukla airport. The Lukla airport is comparatively more dangerous statistically than a typical commercial domestic airport in Nepal, but it’s still pretty safe. The aviation officials of Nepal and local airlines are very concerned about the acceptable flight conditions and regulations for aircraft making the journey to Lukla. Due to danger, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has rules that pilots should have 1 year of experience and need to fly with experienced certified pilots more than 10 times in Lukla.

What if flights get canceled for several days?

Answer: Due to the high chance of severe weather delaying flights, it is recommended that trekkers build in some days at the end of their trek and not have an international flight too soon after the scheduled Lukla to Kathmandu flight. The maximum recorded bad weather is 11 days. In case of long delays, we have the option of a helicopter charter flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. It is an expensive option, which costs between USD 2000 and 2500 for a five-seat helicopter. In the event of a canceled flight, you can claim 100% of the money back from the place you booked it.

What type of plane flies into Lukla, and which airlines operate there?

Answer: Only a Twin Otter-sized plane can land at Lukla Airport. Companies like Tara Air, Summit Air, Sita Air, Goma Air, and Nepal Airlines do regular commercial flights in this airport.

What is the Nepal government doing for safety flights to Lukla?

Answer: Due to the difficulty of landing, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal prioritizes pilots who have completed 100 short takeoff and landing (STOL) experiences. The certified pilot, who has one year of experience, attests to having completed ten flights to Lukla under the supervision of a certified instructor pilot. Only the pilot is allowed to land at this airport.