Phaplu Airport

Phaplu Airport (Nepali: विमानस्थल फाप्लु, IATA: PPL, ICAO: VNPL) is a domestic airport located in Phaplu, Solududhkunda^[1] serving Solukhumbu District, a district in Koshi Province in Nepal.^[3]

Phaplu Airport विमानस्थल फाप्लु
IATA: PPL ICAO: VNPL
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Government of Nepal
Operator	Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal
Serves	Solu Dudhkunda and Solukhumbu District, Nepal
Elevation AMSL	7,918 ft / 2,413 m
Coordinates	27°31′05″N 086°35′04″E
Map
PPL Location of airport in Nepal
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 02/20 680 2,231 Asphalt Concrete
Source:[1][2]

History

The airport was opened in October 1976^[2] and later^[when?] broadened by Sir Edmund Hillary to accommodate DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.^[4] The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal shut down the airport in 2013 in order to pave the runway.^[5] The airport reopened one year later with a full blacktopped runway.^[3]

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 7,918 feet (2,413 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway which is 671 metres (2,201 ft) in length.^[1]

As the airport lies within the approach of Lukla Airport, flights en route to Lukla often get diverted to Phaplu Airport.^[6]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Nepal Airlines	Kathmandu[7]
Sita Air	Charter: Kathmandu[8]
Summit Air	Kathmandu[9]
Tara Air	Kathmandu[10] Charter: Lukla

Gallery

• 
  Aerial view of Phaplu Airport
• 
  Check-in at Phaplu Airport
• 
  De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter 9N-ABT landing at Phaplu Airport