Is Lukla Airport Safe to Fly?

Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport, is known around the world as the most dangerous airport in the world. But what makes Lukla Airport dangerous and why should you be afraid to fly to Lukla? Scroll down for facts, figures and tips for flying to Lukla below:

Flight to Lukla:

Early morning at Domestic terminal at Kathmandu’s sole airport (Tribhuvan International Airport), trekkers and climbers from around the world wait anxiously for what could be their most thrilling flight. As passengers are checked in, luggage is weighed and the tower gives clearance for flights to operate, the plane begins taxiing to the end of the runway for take-off. There are no more diversions and soon the flight will be flying east from Kathmandu Airport for 35 minutes. A few minutes after taking off from Kathmandu Airport, the flight departs Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayas are visible to the left of the plane. Throughout the flight, you will be rewarded with scenic mountain views.The view of Langtang and the Rolwaling Himal is breathtaking during the flight. The 35 minutes in the flight can be the longest 35 minutes of many people’s lives. Soon a village perched on a hill appears out of the blue and as the pilot orients the flight, a track appears and you realize that it is the runway you will land on in a minute. The approach to the runway has a sheer drop of 2000 feet and a large wall at the end of the runway. The pilot carefully lines up the flight on the runway path and soon the flight hits the tarmac of Lukla Airport. And feel the landing at Lukla Airport.

About Lukla Airport

Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport, is located at an altitude of 2,846 m/9,337 ft above sea level in Lukla, Solukhumbu District, Nepal. It is known as the gateway to the world-famous Everest region. The airport was built in 1971 with the help of Sir Edmund Hillary. Lukla Airport is the busiest STOL airport in Nepal. During peak season, an average of 30 flights operate each day.

Geography of Lukla Airport

Lukla Airport has a limited runway of 527 m/1,729ft long, surrounded by hills on the side of a mountain, with a 12% gradient that slows down landing aircraft and increases the speed of the aircraft for take-off. There is a sheer drop of 2,000ft at the end of the runway during take-off and a high ground immediately at the end of the runway during landing. The Lukla airport has a parking capacity of only 4 aircraft.

Lukla Airport Weather:

Although the airport is serviceable all year round, the weather can deteriorate quickly due to Lukla Airport’s high-altitude location. All Lukla flights are scheduled very early starting at 6:00 am as the clouds start to build up during the afternoon. From Kathmandu airport, the flight time is around 35 minutes navigating through high mountains, due to which all flights are conducted with a Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

Accident Records:

Since the establishment of Lukla Airport, more than 30 passengers and crew members have died in 11 accidents involving Lukla flights. The deadliest accident was on 8 October 2008, when a Yeti Airlines aircraft crashed on its final approach, killing 18 passengers and crew members. Due to bad weather and dense fog, the aircraft descended too low and crashed shortly after takeoff. The airport has since tightened its safety measures to prevent such accidents. The most recent accident occurred on 14 April 2009, when a Summit Air Late L-140 turboprop aircraft with no passengers veered off the runway and struck a parked helicopter. The accident killed the first officer on board and a police officer standing near the parked helicopter.

Pilots Flying at Lukla Airport:The short runway, the airport’s limited terrain, and the 2,000-foot drop on approach to the runway mean that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has set high standards for pilots flying at Lukla. Pilots must have completed at least 100 STOL missions, have more than one year of experience flying in Nepal’s STOL areas, and have completed 10 flights to Lukla with a certified instructor pilot. Of course, Pilots operating flights at Lukla Tenzing Hillary Airport are highly skilled.

Aircraft Type:

Only STOL aircraft and helicopters can land at Lukla. Currently, 3 airlines operate regular flights, while Nepal Airlines also operates periodic flights. Aircraft used in the Lukla area include Twin Otter, Dornier, L-410 Turbolet and Pilatus Turbo Porter aircraft. Lukla Airport is the busiest helipad in Nepal, handling tourist flights, passenger flights and rescue flights. Helicopters are stationed at Lukla Airport for emergency purposes during the tourist season.

Alternative If You Do Not Want To Fly To Lukla:

For those who want to avoid flying to Lukla. They can choose to drive to Jiri or Phaplu. From here, it is a 3–4 day trek to Lukla. The flight is only 35 minutes, but if you choose to avoid flying, be prepared for a 8 to 9 -hour drive and 3–4 days of trekking to Lukla. Another option fly to Lukla’s. Helicopters are generally considered safer than airplanes because of their maneuverability and low visibility requirements. You can charter a helicopter to Lukla which will cost USD 2500-USD 3000 per flight or join a shared flight which can cost USD 500 to USD 800 depending on the number of passengers on the helicopter flight. The helicopter to Lukla carries 5 passengers at a time.

Here is our luxury Everest Base Camp Trek and Everest Base Camp Heli Trek which includes a helicopter flight back to Kathmandu, avoiding the plane flights.

Lukla Flight Update:

As of April 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has directed all the airlines to operate the Lukla flight from Ramechhap airport instead of Kathmandu airport. This new change was made to avoid traffic congestion at Kathmandu Airport. Kathmandu Airport is the only international airport in Nepal and has a single runway, which is used by both international and domestic flights. Due to the high number of flights to Lukla, all flights to Lukla from Ramechhap Airport operate during the peak season (April-May and October-November). The flight time from Ramechhap Airport is only 12 minutes, and the chances of flight cancellations due to bad weather are also low. It takes about 4 hours by car to reach Ramechhap from Kathmandu. However, if the number of flights is low, airlines will be able to fly directly from Kathmandu to Lukla.

So, Should Be Afraid Of Flying To Lukla?

There are an average of 30 flights per day during the season, and 400 to 500 tourists come and go. More than 30,000 trekkers and climbers enter the Everest region annually. The airport has taken extra precautions to prevent accidents. Landing in bad weather conditions is strictly prohibited. Approach lights have been installed on the runway of Lukla Airport. Although the accident rate is higher at Lukla Airport compared to other airports, it can be considered very safe for flying as the accident ratio is very low. Ofcourse, the pilots operating Lukla flights in recent times are considered excellent.

Tips For Lukla Flights:

• If you are flying from Kathmandu to Lukla, get a seat on the left side to see the mountains and get a seat on the right side for flights from Lukla to Kathmandu.
• During the busy seasons of April to May and October to November, flights to Lukla are operated from Ramechhap Airport to reduce traffic congestion at Kathmandu Airport. Be prepared for a 4-hour drive.
• If you are flying from Ramechhap Airport or Kathmandu Airport, check with your travel company.
• Check-in time is 1 hour before the flight time, so if your flight is scheduled for 6:15 AM, you should reach the airport by 5:15 AM.
• The baggage limit on flights is only 15 kilograms per passenger and any excess weight will cost USD 1 per kilogram.