Ilam : Ilam’s Falgunanda-Sukilumba airport, which is directly connected to the city and economy, has become deserted. This airport, which had 33 flights in the financial year 2081/82, is now waiting for flights. The residents of the district have demanded regular flights at this airport located in Ilam Municipality-9.
On June 21, 2075, TwinOtter aircraft of Tara Air successfully completed its first test flight. The people here had hoped for regular Jahad flights. After that, Nepal Airlines also conducted a successful test flight on 26 January 2078. Citizens of eastern hilly areas including Ilam are still forced to fly to Jhapa or Biratnagar while taking regular flights.
There has been no flight from this airport since last May. In the beginning, Tara Air’s aircraft flew twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday. The municipality had made an agreement to pay the fare if the seats of the ship were empty when returning from Ilam to Kathmandu. After the agreement was over, the municipality made an agreement with Nepal Airlines again from January 1, 2079 to fly Ilam-Kathmandu on the same schedule. But in the following years, the municipality did not enter into an agreement with any airline, said Chief Administrative Officer Ganesh Kumar Khadka.
‘For the first few years, flights were being made with Tara Air and Nepal Airlines under an agreement with the municipality to bear some amount’, Chief Administrative Officer Khadka said, ‘Now there is no such agreement, we do not have to bear any responsibility.’
Even after the contract with the municipality ended, Nepal Airlines was flying one day a week on Saturday. Dinesh Sundas, station in-charge of Ilam Airport, said that airlines have not been able to fly since June 14, 2082 due to the weather. The airport has been deserted for three months.
Gopal Chauhan, Ward President of Ilam Municipality-9, said that he is concerned about the regular operation of the airport. “Initiatives are being made for the operation of the airport by repeatedly raising the issue in the meeting of the city executive,” he said, “but sometimes the plane is damaged and sometimes due to the weather, there is no long-term solution for the regular operation of the airport.”
The process for the airport built in 328 Ropani area was started in the year 2058. The 670 meter long and 20 meter wide runway of the airport has been paved. But the permanent terminal building, paved access road, security fence and other structures are still incomplete. According to Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, more than Rs.
After the airport was built, the locals gave land ranging from 1 to 42 ropani per person. The foundation stone of the airport was laid by the then Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal on 13th Chait 2067. Khanal himself inaugurated the airport on 1st February 2078.
