Lukla airport serves 84 thousand in 2013

SOLUKHUMBU: The Tenzing Hillary airport in Lukla saw some 84,000 passengers landing and taking off in 2013.

Using flights by various air companies, 40,767 passengers arrived here from Kathmandu while 42,996 passengers left for the capital from here in the last year.

The number of passengers leaving Lukla via air is more by 2,229 than those who arrived here, according to the Civil Aviation Authority in Lukla.

The number of passengers leaving Lukla is higher as many locals too travel to the capital while tourists coming via Jiri of Dolkha also return via air. Likewise, planes carrying cargo to Lukla take back many tourists guides in comparatively cheaper fare.

Of the 40,767 passengers who landed at Lukla airport in 2013, a total of 35,201 were tourists, according to the Authority.

source: republica,31 jan 2014