Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport Template:Airport codes is an airport in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, India. It is the 23rd highest commercial airport in the world at Template:Convert 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.
Military use
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.Template:Citation needed Airport security is tight with Indian Army patrols. Due to its location in between the Himalayas, the approach to Leh Airport has been named as one of the world's most scenic approaches.[1]
Civilian use
Civil aviation enclave
In February 2016, it was reported that the Indian Air Force has handed the airport to Airports Authority of India and AAI will expand it for civilian purposes.[2] 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.[3][4][5]
Construction of new terminal has been completed.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
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Cargo
Template:Airport destination list
References
- ↑ Highest Airports in the World: Landing in Leh (Air India) | 4K(21 October 2017).
- ↑ IAF to vacate Leh airport, to develop base at alternate site(6 February 2016).
- ↑ No plans to vacate Leh air base: IAF(9 February 2016).
- ↑ New terminal to be built at Leh airport for Rs 2 billion(21 July 2016).
- ↑ Leh airport on expansion mode as Air Force gives 11 acres to AAI(1 August 2017).
External links
Template:Airports in India Template:Ladakh Template:Authority control