Paro Airport
Encyclopedia
Paro Airport is the only international airport
of Bhutan
. The airport is located 6 km (3.7 mi) from Paro
in a deep valley on the bank of the Paro river at an elevation of 7300 ft (2,225 m).
With surrounding peaks as high as 18000 ft (5,486.4 m) it is considered one of the world's most challenging airports, and as of October 2009, only eight pilots in the world are certified to land at the airport. Flights at Paro are allowed under visual meteorological conditions
only and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.
Yongphulla Airport
in Trashigang District is the only other airstrip in the country, which is yet undergoing re-construction. The Royal Bhutanese Government's 10th Five Year Plan
(which covers 2008-2013) includes the building of at least two further domestic airstrips
at Bathpalathang in Bumthang District
, and at Gelephu
in Sarpang District
.
The second international airport
project, which was planned for construction at the Gelephu
site, was downgraded to a domestic airport
project in October 2008. The Bhutanese Department of Civil Aviation indicated in January 2010, that the domestic airport at Gelephu may have provisions to be expanded into an 'all weather' airport, capable of receiving international traffic in the future. Construction is due to start in late 2010, with the airport is due to start operations in June 2011.
runway
. Airport facilities include one passenger terminal
with four check-in desks and 1 gate; one cargo terminal; and two aircraft hangars.
In 2002, the airport handled 37,151 passengers and 90,983 tonnes of cargo.
is the national flag carrier airline of Bhutan
and has its base at Paro Airport. Buddha Air
became the first international airline to operate regularly at Paro.
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
of Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. The airport is located 6 km (3.7 mi) from Paro
Paro District
Paro District is the name of a district , valley, river and town in Bhutan. It is one of the most historic valleys in Bhutan. Both trade goods and invading Tibetans came over the pass at the head of the valley, giving Paro the closest cultural connection with Tibet of any Bhutanese district...
in a deep valley on the bank of the Paro river at an elevation of 7300 ft (2,225 m).
With surrounding peaks as high as 18000 ft (5,486.4 m) it is considered one of the world's most challenging airports, and as of October 2009, only eight pilots in the world are certified to land at the airport. Flights at Paro are allowed under visual meteorological conditions
Visual meteorological conditions
In aviation, visual meteorological conditions is an aviation flight category in which visual flight rules flight is permitted—that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft. They are the opposite of...
only and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.
Yongphulla Airport
Yongphulla Airport
Yongphulla Airport is a small domestic airport located near Trashigang, a town in the Trashigang District in Bhutan. It is currently one of only two airports in Bhutan....
in Trashigang District is the only other airstrip in the country, which is yet undergoing re-construction. The Royal Bhutanese Government's 10th Five Year Plan
Five-Year Plans of Bhutan
The Five Year Plans of Bhutan are a series of national economic development plans created by the government of Bhutan since 1961.The government of Bhutan has played a pervasive role in its economy and development...
(which covers 2008-2013) includes the building of at least two further domestic airstrips
Domestic airport
A domestic airport is an airport which handles only domestic flights or flights within the same country. Domestic airports don't have customs and immigration facilities and are therefore incapable of handling flights to or from a foreign airport....
at Bathpalathang in Bumthang District
Bumthang District
Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
, and at Gelephu
Gelephu
Gelephu is a town in Sarpang District in Bhutan. It is located on the Indian border, about 30 km to the east of Sarpang, the Dzongkhag headquarters , and has a population of 9,199 as per 2005 census.Gelephu was selected as a site for Bhutan's second international airport project, but it was...
in Sarpang District
Sarpang District
Sarpang District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan.-Languages:...
.
The second international airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
project, which was planned for construction at the Gelephu
Gelephu
Gelephu is a town in Sarpang District in Bhutan. It is located on the Indian border, about 30 km to the east of Sarpang, the Dzongkhag headquarters , and has a population of 9,199 as per 2005 census.Gelephu was selected as a site for Bhutan's second international airport project, but it was...
site, was downgraded to a domestic airport
Domestic airport
A domestic airport is an airport which handles only domestic flights or flights within the same country. Domestic airports don't have customs and immigration facilities and are therefore incapable of handling flights to or from a foreign airport....
project in October 2008. The Bhutanese Department of Civil Aviation indicated in January 2010, that the domestic airport at Gelephu may have provisions to be expanded into an 'all weather' airport, capable of receiving international traffic in the future. Construction is due to start in late 2010, with the airport is due to start operations in June 2011.
Facilities
The airport has a single, 6445 feet (1,964.4 m) asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. Airport facilities include one passenger terminal
Passenger terminal
Passenger terminal may refer to:*A train station terminus at the end of a railway line*Airport terminal, a building at an airport where passengers board and disembark from aircraft...
with four check-in desks and 1 gate; one cargo terminal; and two aircraft hangars.
In 2002, the airport handled 37,151 passengers and 90,983 tonnes of cargo.
Airlines and destinations
Druk AirDruk Air
Druk Air Corporation Limited , operating as Drukair — Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the national airline of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Its headquarters are in the western dzongkhag of Paro....
is the national flag carrier airline of Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and has its base at Paro Airport. Buddha Air
Buddha Air
Buddha Air Pvt. Ltd is an airline based in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur District, Nepal, near Patan. It operates domestic services within Nepal, serving mainly large towns and cities in Nepal, linking Kathmandu with nine destinations. Its main base is Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu...
became the first international airline to operate regularly at Paro.