Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Indian Air Force
Operator Airport Authority of India
Serves Leh
Location Leh, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Elevation AMSL 3,256 m / 10,682 ft
Coordinates 34°08′09″N 077°32′47″E / 34.13583°N 77.54639°E / 34.13583; 77.54639Coordinates: 34°08′09″N 077°32′47″E / 34.13583°N 77.54639°E / 34.13583; 77.54639
Map
IXL
IXL
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,752 9,028 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2016 - March 2017)
Passenger movements 563,800 (Increase38.0%)
Aircraft movements 4,904 (Increase42.8%)
Cargo tonnage 1,665 (Increase15.5%)
Source: AAI[1] [2] [3]

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IATA: IXL, ICAO: VILH) is an airport in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is the 22nd highest commercial airport in the world at 3,256 m (10,682 ft) above mean sea level. The airport is named after 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, an Indian statesman and monk, whose Spituk Monastery is in direct vicinity to the airfield.

Due to the presence of mountain winds in the afternoon, all flights take off and land in the morning. The approach is challenging as it is unidirectional and has high terrain towards the eastern end of the airport. Airport security is tight with Indian Army patrols. Due to its location in between the Mountain ranges of Himalayas the approach to Leh Airport has been named as one of the world's most scenic approaches which makes this airport a scenic airport to land into and take off from[4].

In February 2016, it was reported that the Indian Air Force has handed the airport to Airport Authority of India and AAI will expand it for civilian purposes. [5] But those reports of IAF vacating the entire air base were dismissed by Ministry of Defence and Leh Deputy Commissioner. They clarified that the IAF would vacate only a small part of land for construction of a new terminal.[6][7][8]

Airlines and destinations

Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport
AirlinesDestinations
Air IndiaChandigarh, Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar
SpiceJetDelhi
GoAirDelhi, Mumbai, Srinagar
Jet Airways Delhi
VistaraDelhi

References

  1. ↑ "Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 27 April 2017. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 27 April 2017. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-IV" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 27 April 2017. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Oscar Boyd (2017-10-21), Highest Airports in the World: Landing in Leh (Air India) | 4K, retrieved 2017-10-21
  5. ↑ "IAF to vacate Leh airport, to develop base at alternate site". 6 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "No plans to vacate Leh air base: IAF". 9 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "New terminal to be built at Leh airport for Rs 200 crore". 21 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Leh airport on expansion mode as Air Force gives 11 acres to AAI". 1 August 2017.
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