Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IATA: IXL, ICAO: VILH) is an airport in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, India. It is the 23rd 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.

"Leh airport" redirects here. For the airport in France with IATA code LEH, see Le Havre – Octeville Airport.

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerIndian Air Force
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesLeh
LocationLeh, Ladakh, India
Elevation AMSL3,256 m / 10,682 ft
Coordinates34°08′09″N 077°32′47″E
Map
IXL
IXL
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,752 9,028 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2019 - March 2020)
Passenger movements7,63,042 (7.1)
Aircraft movements5982 (10.2%)
Cargo tonnage1695 (4.5%)
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

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. 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.[4]

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.[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]

Construction of new terminal began in February 2019 with schedule completion in September 2021.[9]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport
AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Air IndiaChandigarh (resumes 30 March 2021), Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar[10]
GoAirDelhi[11]
IndiGoDelhi (begins 22 February 2021)[12]
SpiceJetDelhi, Srinagar[13]
VistaraDelhi[14]

Cargo
AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
SpiceXpress Delhi[15]

See also
Military bases
Borders
Conflicts
Operations
Other related topics

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 (21 October 2017), Highest Airports in the World: Landing in Leh (Air India) | 4K
  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 2 billion". 21 July 2016.
  8. "Leh airport on expansion mode as Air Force gives 11 acres to AAI". 1 August 2017.
  9. "Twenty percent work completed on Leh terminal". www.projectstoday.com. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  10. "Air India Timetable". Air India. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  11. "GoAir flight schedule". GoAir. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  12. "IndiGo to launch flight services between Delhi, Leh on February 22". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  13. "SpiceJet flight schedule". SpiceJet. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  14. "Vistara flight schedule". Vistara. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  15. "SpiceJet launches dedicated freighter services to Leh in Ladakh". Business Standard. Retrieved 10 December 2020.


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