Sukilumba Airport
{{Infobox airport
| name = Sukilumba Airport
| nativename =
| image =
| IATA = —
| ICAO = —
| pushpin_map = Nepal
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Nepal
| pushpin_label = Sukilumba Airport
| pushpin_label_position = left
| type = Public
| owner = Government of Nepal
| operator = Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal
| city-served = Ilam Municipality, Nepal
| location =
| elevation-f =
| elevation-m =
| coordinates = {{coord|26|52|39.0786|N|87|54|18.5538|E|region:NP|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-length-m = 670
| r1-length-f =
| r1-surface = Asphalt
}}
Sukilumba Airport {{airport codes|—|—}}, also known as Ilam Airport, is a domestic airport located in Ilam serving Ilam District, a district in Koshi Province in Nepal. Flight time from Kathmandu to Sukilumba Airport is about one hour.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-08 |title=इलाम विमानस्थलमा माघदेखि नियमित उडान गर्ने तयारीमा नेवानि – Online Khabar |url=https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2023/01/1244649 |access-date=2023-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108144031/https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2023/01/1244649 |archive-date=2023-01-08 }}
History
According to The Rising Nepal, constructions on the airport first began in 2011.{{cite web |last1=Adhikari |first1=Prem |title=Sukilumba Airport Ready After 11 Years |url=https://risingnepaldaily.com/business/sukilumba-airport-ready-after-11-years |publisher=The Rising Nepal |access-date=17 February 2022 |date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214014610/https://risingnepaldaily.com/business/sukilumba-airport-ready-after-11-years |url-status=live }} In February 2015, construction ground to a halt as the project ran out of funds.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-09 |title=Airport project stalls for lack of funds |url=https://kathmandupost.com/money/2015/02/14/airport-project-stalls-for-lack-of-funds |access-date=2023-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109031804/https://kathmandupost.com/money/2015/02/14/airport-project-stalls-for-lack-of-funds |archive-date=2023-01-09 }} In 2018, the first test flight landed at the airport.{{cite web |last1=Gautam |first1=Laxmi |title=Ilam's Sukilumba Airport conducts successful test flight |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/ilams-sukilumba-airport-conducts-successful-test-flight |publisher=The Himalayan Times |access-date=17 February 2022 |date=4 June 2018 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217210554/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/ilams-sukilumba-airport-conducts-successful-test-flight |url-status=live }} However, due to insufficient funds, the further construction of the airport was delayed.{{cite web |last1=Rai |first1=Pinkey |title=Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport gains no momentum for construction |url=https://www.aviationnepal.com/falgunanda-sukilumba-airport-gains-no-momentum-for-construction/ |publisher=Aviation Nepal |access-date=17 February 2022 |date=9 February 2019 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217210509/https://www.aviationnepal.com/falgunanda-sukilumba-airport-gains-no-momentum-for-construction/ |url-status=live }} In 2021, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal deemed the airport to be ready for operation.{{cite web |last1=Chapagain |first1=Bhim |title=Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport ready for operation |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/falgunanda-sukilumba-airport-ready-for-operation/ |publisher=República |access-date=17 February 2022 |date=15 April 2021 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213131921/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/falgunanda-sukilumba-airport-ready-for-operation/ |url-status=live }} At the time of opening, the airport is served without a terminal building. Another test flight by Nepal Airlines was carried out on 9 February 2022.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-09 |title=CAAN - A test flight has been carried out at the Sukilumba Airport, Ilam . |url=https://caanepal.gov.np/news-detail/post/test-flight-has-been-carried-out-sukilumba-airport-ilam-today |access-date=2023-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109031526/https://caanepal.gov.np/news-detail/post/test-flight-has-been-carried-out-sukilumba-airport-ilam-today |archive-date=2023-01-09 }} The airport was opened on 13 February 2022{{cite web |title=फाल्गुनान्द सुकिलुम्बा विमानस्थलको धावनमार्गको समुद्घाटन सु-सम्पन्न |url=https://caanepal.gov.np/news-detail/post/-20220213news |publisher=Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal |access-date=17 February 2022 |language=Nepali |date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213142542/https://caanepal.gov.np/news-detail/post/-20220213news |url-status=live }} with flights by Tara Air, whereas Nepal Airlines planned to operate flights but these plans did not yet materialize.{{cite web |title=Commercial flights from Ilam to Kathmandu from 21 February |date=9 February 2022 |url=https://mteveresttoday.com/commercial-flights-from-ilam-to-kathmandu-from-21-february/ |publisher=Mount Everest Today |access-date=17 February 2022 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217210537/https://mteveresttoday.com/commercial-flights-from-ilam-to-kathmandu-from-21-february/ |url-status=live }}
Facilities
The airport resides at an elevation of {{convert|1893 |ft|0}} above mean sea level. It has one runway which is {{convert|670|m|0}} in length.
Airlines and destinations
{{Airport-dest-list
| Tara Air | Kathmandu{{cite web |title=A new destination has been added to our widest network, ILAM. |url=https://twitter.com/FlyYeti/status/1494322633068134400 |publisher=Tara Air |access-date=17 February 2022}}
| Nepal Airlines | Kathmandu{{cite web |title=Nepal Airlines to operate flights to Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepal-airlines-to-operate-flights-to-falgunanda-sukilumba-airport/ |publisher=República |access-date=9 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=Domestic Schedule |url=https://www.nepalairlines.com.np/domestic |publisher=Nepal Airlines |access-date=24 April 2023}}
}}