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Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

Coordinates: 34°08′09″N 077°32′43″E / 34.13583°N 77.54528°E / 34.13583; 77.54528
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"Leh airport" and "Leh airfield" redirect here. For the airport in France with IATA code LEH, see Le Havre – Octeville Airport.

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh (Ladakh)
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′43″E / 34.13583°N 77.54528°E / 34.13583; 77.54528
WebsiteLeh Airport
Map
IXL is located in Ladakh
IXL
IXL
Location of airport in Ladakh
IXL is located in India
IXL
IXL
IXL (India)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,752 9,028 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024)
Passengers1,074,426 (Decrease 14.8%)
Aircraft movements7,614 (Decrease 16%)
Cargo tonnage1,731 (Decrease 10.7%)
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IATA: IXL, ICAO: VILH) is a military airfield of the Indian Air Force as well as domestic airport serving Leh, the capital of Ladakh, India. Situated at 3,256 m (10,682 ft) above mean sea level, it is the highest commercial airport in India and one of the highest in the world. The airport is named after 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk whose Spituk Monastery is in vicinity to the airfield. Due to its location in between the Himalayas, the approach to Leh Airport is one of the most challenging and scenic.

History

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The airport was established in 1961 as a military air-strip for landing of military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force and other nations, such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and the Antonov AN-12, for supporting the troops of the Indian Army in the forward areas of Ladakh. Civilian flights began later, after the 1962 Indo-China War. A separate terminal building was constructed for handling civilian passengers in 1985.[4] In 2016, the airport was to be handed over to Airports Authority of India, which will expand it for civilian use;[5] however, the airport remains a premier and strategic airfield of the Indian Air Force. The Ministry of Defence clarified that a portion of land will be earmarked for a construction of a new terminal and the airport will continue to serve military flights.[6] Situated at 3,256 m (10,682 ft) above mean sea level, it is the highest commercial airport in India and one of the highest in the world.[7]

Infrastructure

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Terminal

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In 2016, the Indian Air Force allocated 11 acres (4.5 ha) of land for the construction of a new civilian terminal.[8] The new terminal covering an area of 19,000 m2 (200,000 sq ft) along with aero bridges was constructed at a cost of ₹2 billion (US$23 million).[9]

Aerial view of the airport. At 10,682 feet, it is the highest airport in India.

In 2019, the Airports Authority of India planned to construct a new passenger terminal beside the current terminal at a cost of ₹480 crore (US$56 million) to cater to increasing traffic. It would be equipped with all modern and essential passenger-friendly facilities, will have 18 check-in counters, in-line baggage handling system and would be capable of serving 2 million passengers per annum.[10] Construction of the new terminal began in February 2019 and was expected to be completed by 2023.[11]

Runway

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The airport has one asphalt runway of 9,036 ft (2,754 m) in length.[12] Due to the presence of mountain winds in the afternoon, all flights operate in the morning and the approach is challenging as it is unidirectional with a higher terrain towards the eastern end of the airport.[13] 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.[14]

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Air IndiaChandigarh, Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar[15]
IndiGoChandigarh, Delhi, Jammu, Seasonal:Mumbai[16][17]
SpiceJetDelhi
Seasonal: Mumbai		[18]

Cargo

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AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
SpiceXpress Delhi[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ "New terminal building at Leh airport to handle 20 lakh passengers annually". ANI. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. ^ "IAF to vacate Leh airport, to develop base at alternate site". The Times of India. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ "No plans to vacate Leh air base: IAF". 9 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ^ Limca Book of Records 2020–22. Hachette India. 2021. ISBN 978-9-3883-2299-7.
  8. ^ "Leh airport on expansion mode as Air Force gives 11 acres to AAI". 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ^ "New terminal to be built at Leh airport for Rs 2 billion". The Economic Times. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Leh airport to expand into a world-class facility". Times of India. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. ^ "New Terminal Building with enhanced capacity in making at Leh Airport". ANI. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Leh, technical info". India Airports. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Challenging airports in the world". Airwaysmag. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  14. ^ Oscar Boyd (21 October 2017), Highest Airports in the World: Landing in Leh (Air India)
  15. ^ "Air India Timetable". Air India. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  16. ^ "INDIGO 1H23 DOMESTIC ROUTES ADDITION SUMMARY – 05MAR23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  17. ^ "IndiGo to launch flight services between Delhi, Leh on February 22". Moneycontrol. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  18. ^ "SpiceJet flight schedule". SpiceJet. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  19. ^ "SpiceJet launches dedicated freighter services to Leh in Ladakh". Business Standard. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
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