The Nepal Weekly 
September 17, 2024
Airport is a place from which aircraft takeoff and land. Most airports in the world have only a long strip of level ground called a runway and maintenance facilities and serves as a terminal site for passengers and cargo as well as hangers for the aircraft.
Good airport structure enhances the first impression for arriving tourists. Having airports improve accessibility by creating new routes and connections, attracting more tourists and supporting the local tourism industry. act as hubs of economic activity, generating employment, stimulating local businesses, and attracting investment. Thus, in the modern global economy, the role of airports has evolved dramatically.
Airports are a junction where millions of passengers navigate their way to and from destinations each year.
History
While tracing the airport history, College Park Airport (KCGS) in Maryland of the United States is considered the oldest operational airport in the world. The Red Sea International Airport in Hanak, Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia is the newest airport in the world that began operations on September 21, 2023.
Numbers
According to the news report, the United States has 13,513 airports, including 102 that allow international travel followed by Brazil with 4,093 airports. Likewise, Mexico has 1,714 airports and Canada has 1,467 airports.
Five European countries namely—Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City have no airport within their boundaries.
Best & Worst
Skytrax Awards 2024 has named Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar as the best airport in the world. Until 2023, it was Singapore’s Changi International Airport. Based on its close proximity to the city, a low number of departing flights, visitors’ criticism towards journey to the airport, long wait times, no punctuality of depart and arrival time, and overcrowded departure lounges, limited number of retail outlets and restaurants along with customers’ opinion on foods shop’s location Indonesian capital Jakarta based Halim Perdana Kusuma International Airport (HLP) falls in the category of worst airports in the world.
Likewise, Côte d-Azur, Marseille Provence (MRS) Airport, Sofia Airport (SOF) of Bulgaria, Canada’s Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Indonesia’s Bali based Denpasar International Airport (DPS), Serbia’s Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG), Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) of Portugal are also fall in the same class.
England’s London Gatwick Airport (LGW), Malta International Airport (MLA) and Banjarmasin Syamsudin Noor International Airport (BDJ), Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport (BVA/LFOB) of France, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR/KEWR) of America are also categorized as the worst airports in the world.
Risky and Lavish
Nepal’s domestic airport Tenzing-Hillary Airport also known as Lukla Airport based in Khumbu of Solukhumbu District in eastern region is rated the most dangerous airport in the world whereas Dubai International Airport reigns supreme as the world’s most luxurious airport.
Highest Connections
Likewise, Turkey based Istanbul Airport is the most connected airport in 2024, serving 309 unique destinations followed by Germany’s Frankfurt Airport (FRA), France’s Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), The Netherlands’ Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), United States of America’s Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), United Arab Emirates’ Dubai International Airport (DXB), United States of America’s Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), China’s Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), United States of America’s Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) and Italy’s Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
Busiest
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world that serves 5.2 million passengers in early September 2024. Likewise, Dubai International Airport (DXB) remains in second place serving 4.9 million passengers while Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport (HND) comes in third position which has served 4.6 million passengers.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) of the USA secured the fourth place with serving 4.2 million passengers followed by London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Istanbul Airport (IST).
Likewise, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) also fall in the busiest airport category
Biggest & Smallest
Located in Dammam of Saudi Arabia, King Fahd International Airport is the largest airport in the world by area that sprawls over an impressive 776 square kilometers land area.
Likewise, Al Maktoum International Airport of Dubai is the second largest land airport. Dallas International Airport (DFW) in the Texas Prairie in the United States of is the third largest airport in the world by land area followed by Denver International Airport and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, United States of America.
Meanwhile, Yrausquin Airport on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba is the smallest airport in the world with a length of 400 m (1,312 ft) runway.
Nepal’s TIA
Besides many domestic airports, Nepal also has three international airports — Tribhuvan International Airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is a prime international airport located in Kathmandu, Nepal that has international and domestic terminals connected to over 40 destinations in 17 countries.
Situated about 5.56 km east of downtown Kathmandu, Tribhuvan International Airport is in the heart of the Kathmandu Valleyamid the confluence of three ancient cities — Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan. The airport structure is rich in art and culture reflectingthe pride of the nation. Hence Tribhuvan International Airport not only has flourished as the main hub for every expanding business of the country but has proudly catered to various domestic and international airlines.
Tribhuvan International Airportserves as an international hub for many international airlines including the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines and private-owned Himalaya Airlines that fly various destinations of the world along with over 30 domestic carriers.
While looking at the ranking history, Tribhuvan International Airport has been ranked one of the worst airports in the world which spread into a single 3,350 meters runway.
As per the survey done by sleepinginairports.net website, the Tribhuvan International Airport has been awarded the title of one of the worst airports in the world.
However, as per the master plan of the Tribhuvan International Airport various works are underway to expand the Tribhuvan International Airport with estimated Nepalese Rupees 50 billion to be invested in four structures aiming to handle 10 million passengers annually.
The expansion works include the widening and lengthening of the runway to 3,353 meters, building of additional structures that facilitates to park up to 22 wide-body and narrow-body aircraft simultaneously.
