Simikot Airport

Simikot Airport (IATA: IMK, ICAO: VNST) is a domestic airport located in Simikot^[1] serving Humla District, a district in Karnali Province in Nepal. It is the main tourist gateway on the Nepalese side to the Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.^[3] As road access in this area of Nepal is weak, the airport facilitates travel in the whole district of Humla.^[2]

Simikot Airport
Tara Air Twin Otter at Simikot
IATA: IMK ICAO: VNST
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Government of Nepal
Operator	Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal
Serves	Simikot, Nepal
Elevation AMSL	9,246 ft / 2,818 m
Coordinates	29°58′16″N 081°49′08″E
Map
Simikot Airport Location of airport in Nepal
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 10/28 650 2,133 Asphalt Concrete
Source: Great Circle Mapper[1][2]

Flying Dragon Airlines Harbin Y-12 at Simikot Airport

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 9,246 ft (2,818 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway which is 549 m (1,801 ft) in length.^[1] The runway has recently been improved and extended with more infrastructure being built.

As a result of this construction the parking facilities and terminals also have seen some improvement. Pilgrims and Trekkers bound for Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash in China's Tibet Autonomous Region fly into Simikot and proceed to the international border at Hilsa on foot^[4] or by helicopter.^[5]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Nepal Airlines	Birendranagar,[6] Nepalgunj[7]
Sita Air	Nepalgunj[8]
Summit Air	Birendranagar, Nepalgunj[9]
Tara Air	Nepalgunj[10]

Accidents and incidents

• On 23 June 2011, Tara Air Dornier 228 9N-AGQ was substantially damaged in a heavy landing and runway excursion. The aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Nepalgunj Airport.^[11]