With rising tourists, Lukla witnesses over 160 flights a day

By Santosh Raut,Solukhumbu, Nov. 6: The Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, one of the busiest airports in the mountainous region, is experiencing a sharp rise in air traffic as the number of tourists visiting the area has surged. 

With the peak tourist season underway and the weather improving, more than 160 aircraft and helicopters are taking off and landing at the airport every day.

According to the Civil Aviation Office in Lukla, around 60 aircraft and over 100 helicopters flying to and from Lukla daily to meet the growing demand. 

Tourism in the upper region of Solukhumbu, which had been affected during mid-season due to bad weather, has experienced a revival following the improvement in weather condition. 

The number of tourists visiting to observe Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, and other scenic mountain views has increased. 

With the weather now clear, thousands of tourists who had been waiting for favourable conditions, have left for trekking, leading to a sharp rise in flight operations. On Tuesday alone, aircraft from Tara Air, Sita Air and Summit Air made about 80 flights, while different helicopter companies operated more than 200 flights, said Aman Chandra Jha, Senior ATC Officer at Civil Aviation Office, Lukla. 

The sudden surge in visitors has led to busy schedules for airlines operating from Lukla, which serves as the gateway to the Everest region.

Airlines have prioritised flights to major tourist airports like Lukla during the season, leading to fewer flights to other airports in the district. 

Tourism entrepreneurs say that the number of visitors travelling both by air and on foot has increased significantly since the start of the season in mid-October.

The Sagarmatha National Park Office at Jorsale, where all tourists must register before entering the Khumbu region, has also reported the rising influx of tourists in the region. 

The office, which also runs a tourist information centre, provides guidance on safety and regulations for those trekking in the high Himalayas.

Hotels and lodges in Lukla, Jorsalle, Phakding, Namche, Khumjung, and Tengboche are packed with visitors, and local businesses are busy meeting their demands. Many porters from lower Solukhumbu have gone to the Khumbu region to work during the peak season. 

Tourism operators estimate that around 1,500 tourists are currently travelling through the Everest region by air each day