By Prem Adhikari
Pashupatinagar, Feb. 14: Eleven years after the construction work began, the runway of Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport in Ilam was inaugurated on Sunday.
Former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale jointly inaugurated the new aviation infrastructure constructed in Ward No. 9 of Ilam Municipality this morning.
Regular flight services in this airport will help in tourism promotion in the eastern hill districts, said Khanal. He said that the present government will work in a way that the people could feel the results.

Tourism Minister Ale said that soon Ilam-Kathmandu flight services will be operated by Nepal Airlines Corporation. He pledged budget support for the construction of terminal building, security post and other structured needed for the airport.
He also said that initiatives should be launched to attract foreign tourists to the hills of Ilam district. The airport has 328 ropanis area.

Khanal had laid the foundation stone for the airport with 700 metre length and 60 metre width about 11 years ago when he was PM. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said that about Rs. 300 million is spent in the airport construction so far.
Regular flight services from the airport to Kathmandu will begin from February 20 this year.

Ilam Municipality will bear all the liabilities to run the airport and has signed an agreement with Tara Air Pvt. Ltd., and the company has set Rs. 8,700 one way fare for Ilam to Kathmandu route. While locals are protesting the rate terming it ‘exorbitant’, NAC has announced its flight operation to and from the Sukilumba airport.