Ramechhap Airport: Potential to be more than just a ‘transit’ point
Ramechhap Airport. Photo: Nasana Bajracharya Every year, hundreds of mountaineers arrive with the dream of summiting the world’s highest mountain, Everest. A thousand others come to trek to Everest Base Camp , revelling in the breathtaking scenery. To embark on this journey, they must first reach the gateway to Everest—Lukla which is home to one of the most dangerous airports in the world. The nerve-wracking part of their adventure begins with a 17-minute flight from Ramechhap Airport to Lukla. During peak tourist season between March to May and September to November, Ramechhap Airport operates at its maximum capacity, handling around 120 daily flights (to and fro) and helicopter trips catering to about 2,000 tourists daily. The airport and the entire town of Manthali, where the airport is located, experience a surge in activity during the peak season, sometimes leading to overcrowding. The waiting room often faces this issue and the airport staff find it challenging to manage t...