Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

Coordinates: 34°08′09″N 077°32′43″E / 34.13583°N 77.54528°E / 34.13583; 77.54528
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Leh airport" redirects here. For the airport in France with IATA code LEH, see Le Havre – Octeville Airport.

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
AMSL
3,256 m / 10,682 ft
Coordinates34°08′09″N 077°32′43″E / 34.13583°N 77.54528°E / 34.13583; 77.54528
WebsiteLeh Airport
Map
IXL is located in Ladakh
IXL
IXL
Location of airport in Ladakh
IXL is located in India
IXL
IXL
IXL (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,752 9,028 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024)
Passengers1,074,426 (Decrease 14.8%)
Aircraft movements7,614 (Decrease 16%)
Cargo tonnage1,731 (Decrease 10.7%)
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (

highest in the world. The airport is named after 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk whose Spituk Monastery is in vicinity to the airfield. Due to its location in between the Himalayas
, the approach to Leh Airport is one of the most challenging and scenic.

History

The airport was established in 1985 to handle limited flights for the

highest in the world.[7]

Infrastructure

Terminal

In 2016, the Indian Air Force allocated 11 acres (4.5 ha) of land for the construction of a new civilian terminal.

aero bridges was constructed at a cost of ₹2 billion (US$25 million).[9]

Aerial view of the airport. At 10,682 feet, it is the highest airport in India.

In 2019, the Airports Authority of India planned to construct a new passenger terminal beside the current terminal at a cost of ₹480 crore (US$60 million) to cater to increasing traffic. It would be equipped with all modern and essential passenger-friendly facilities, will have 18 check-in counters, in-line baggage handling system and would be capable of serving 2 million passengers per annum.[10] Construction of the new terminal began in February 2019 and was expected to be completed by 2023.[11]

Runway

The airport has one asphalt runway of 9,036 ft (2,754 m) in length.[12] Due to the presence of mountain winds in the afternoon, all flights operate in the morning and the approach is challenging as it is unidirectional with a higher terrain towards the eastern end of the airport.[13] Due to its location in between the Himalayas, the approach to Leh Airport has been named as one of the world's most scenic approaches.[14]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Air IndiaChandigarh, Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar[15]
IndiGoChandigarh, Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai[16][17]
SpiceJetDelhi
Seasonal: Mumbai		[18]
VistaraDelhi[19]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
SpiceXpress Delhi[20]

References

  1. ^ "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ "New terminal building at Leh airport to handle 20 lakh passengers annually". ANI. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. ^ "IAF to vacate Leh airport, to develop base at alternate site". The Times of India. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ "No plans to vacate Leh air base: IAF". 9 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ISBN 978-9-3883-2299-7
    .
  8. ^ "Leh airport on expansion mode as Air Force gives 11 acres to AAI". 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ^ "New terminal to be built at Leh airport for Rs 2 billion". The Economic Times. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  10. Times of India
    . 16 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. ^ "New Terminal Building with enhanced capacity in making at Leh Airport". ANI. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Leh, technical info". India Airports. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Challenging airports in the world". Airwaysmag. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  14. ^ Oscar Boyd (21 October 2017), Highest Airports in the World: Landing in Leh (Air India)
  15. ^ "Air India Timetable". Air India. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  16. ^ "INDIGO 1H23 DOMESTIC ROUTES ADDITION SUMMARY – 05MAR23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  17. ^ "IndiGo to launch flight services between Delhi, Leh on February 22". Moneycontrol. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  18. ^ "SpiceJet flight schedule". SpiceJet. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Vistara flight schedule". Vistara. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  20. ^ "SpiceJet launches dedicated freighter services to Leh in Ladakh". Business Standard. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

External links


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