Kathmandu, July 28, 2025 - Nepal’s only international gateway, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), is facing mounting pressure as it rapidly approaches - and exceeds - its designed passenger capacity. With just six months into 2025, the airport has already served more than 4.65 million travelers, signaling an urgent need for infrastructural expansion and modernization.
According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), from January to June 2025, a total of 4,655,078 passengers used the airport. Though slightly down from 4,662,425 in the same period last year, the numbers remain significantly high for a facility designed to handle only 8 million passengers annually.
Spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul of CAAN acknowledged the strain, stating:
> “The airport is now operating with a load exceeding its annual design capacity by nearly one million passengers. Even with a marginal drop this year, the long-term trend shows a consistent increase in air travelers.”
In response, CAAN has accelerated plans to expand the airport’s capacity. Notably, the authority is preparing to repurpose the existing international terminal for domestic use while constructing a new international terminal to handle growing demand. The expansion is expected to enhance flight punctuality, reduce delays, and improve aviation safety, which has been compromised due to frequent aircraft queuing for takeoff and landing.
Rising Numbers and Future Projections
The latest projections suggest that TIA could serve up to 10 million passengers in 2025 alone, far exceeding its original capacity. Furthermore, CAAN forecasts that the number of air travelers could double within the next decade, underscoring the urgency of infrastructural development.
Breakdown of Passenger Traffic (Jan–June 2025):
International passengers: 2,423,199
Domestic passengers: 2,231,879
For comparison, during the same period in 2024:
International passengers: 2,490,612
Domestic passengers: 2,171,813
The total number of passengers served in 2024 stood at 7,126,837, while 2023 saw a record 8,691,000 passengers passing through the airport.
Flight Operations Surging
In just the first half of 2025, TIA handled:
16,068 international flight movements (8,033 takeoffs and 8,035 landings)
50,418 domestic flights
On a daily basis, the airport currently manages around 100 international and 300–400 domestic flight operations, highlighting the significant operational load on Nepal’s sole international air hub.
Looking Ahead
As Nepal positions itself as a growing tourism and business destination, aviation infrastructure must evolve accordingly. TIA's current congestion not only affects passenger experience but also raises concerns over flight safety, environmental stress, and logistical delays.
Ecosphere News will continue to monitor the progress of airport expansion and its implications on Nepal’s aviation landscape.
