Airports in Himachal Pradesh

There are 3 airports in Himachal Pradesh all are surrounded by the beautiful mountain ranges of Himalayas. These three airports are located in Kullu, Shimla and Dharamshala District of Himachal Pradesh. Every year millions of tourist visits these hill stations to explore beauty of Himachal and these 3 airports in Himachal Pradesh make their journey memorable. All these three airports in Himachal are domestic airport with limited services from Delhi and Chandigarh only. 

All three airports in Himachal are under The Airports Authority of India or AAI is a statutory body, under the ownership of Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. It is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India. It provides Communication Navigation Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) services over Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas. AAI is currently managing a total of 137 Airports, including 34 International Airports, 10 Customs Airports, 81 Domestic Airports and 23 civil enclaves at Defense Airfields.

Kullu Manali Airport 

Kullu–Manali Airport (IATA: KUU, ICAO: VIBR)  also called Bhuntar Airport located in Bhuntar, Kullu in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The airport is located 11 km from Kullu and 52 km from Manali. Kasol and Manikarn in Parvati Valley are easily approachable from Bhuntar Airport. 

Bhuntar is one of the most challenging airports for pilots because of its single runway set in a deep valley whose peaks rise several thousand feet higher than the runway. Kullu Manali Airport is located on the banks of the river Beas, and there is always  a threat to the runway due to flash flood in the valley. The new air terminal at Bhuntar was inaugurated in 2008, and the airport apron enlarged to park two aircraft at a time. Due to high challenging conditions Kingfisher Airlines ceased operations in September 2012 while Air India Regional resumed its operations to Kullu in May 2013. Himalayan Bulls in collaboration with Deccan Charters has commenced Kullu-Chandigarh - Kullu flights thrice a day from 2 April 2014.

In order to strengthen air connectivity in the state, the Himachal Pradesh Government plans to upgrade the airport. The Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Roorkee has prepared a detailed feasibility report for expanding the airport runway by 550 meters at a cost of Rs.248 crore. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which operates the airport, has planned an extension of another 60 meters. 

Contact number of Kullu Manali Airport – 91-1902-265052 9418062064

Email – apdbhuntar@aai.aero

Fax - 91-1902-265062

Shimla Airport

Shimla is not only the state capital but is also one of the main tourist destinations of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla Airport (IATA: SLV, ICAO: VISM) is a regional airport located in Jubbarhatti, 22 kilometers from Shimla in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Kingfisher Airlines, used to operate the sole daily flight from Delhi, could not carry more than 28 passengers on its return journey because of load restrictions imposed on the aircraft due to Shimla's high altitude. It ceased operations to Shimla in September 2012.

On April 27, 2017, commercial service was resumed by Alliance Air, the regional subsidiary of Air India.

Contact number of Shimla Airport – 0177-2736835

Email – apdshimla@aai.aero

Fax - 0177-2736673

 

Dharamshala Airport

Dharamshala also famous for International cricket ground the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama lives here. Dharamshala Airport is also known as Kangra-Gaggal Airport, officially known as Kangra Airport  (IATA: DHM, ICAO: VIGG) is a regional airport located at Gaggal in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, 12 km from Dharamshala , 8 kilometers from Kangra city center and 14 kilometers from the railway station at Kangra. Kangra Airport is located on the Pathankot - Mandi highway. Kangra Airport is the largest airport in Himachal Pradesh. This airport 

The foundation of Dharamsala-Gaggal airport was laid down by then Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sh. Virbhadra Singh on 15th October, 1986. First Scheduled operation at this Airport started by Vayudoot with Dornier-228 in the year 1990. Subsequently other airlines like Jagson, Deccan & Kingfisher also operated from this Airport. In 2001, the airport was renamed as Dharamsala-Kangra airport.

The Airport, spread over 1269 acres at an altitude of 2492 feet has one asphalt runway, oriented 15/33, 1376 meters long and 30 meters wide. Its 300 by 200 foot apron provides parking space for 2 turboprop aircraft like the ATR-72, while its terminal building can handle 100 passengers.

Contact number of Dharamshala Airport – 91- 01892-293840

Email – apd_kangra@aai.aero

Proposed airport in Himachal Pradesh 

Mandi airport

Mandi Airport is the only airport  proposed greenfield airport to be built at Nag Chala in Mandi District in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The airport will be built on a total of 698 acres. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) gave its clearance for the airport after visiting the site in May 2018 

Since the existing airports in the state at Kullu, Kangra and Shimla are only capable of handling small aircraft, the State government was keen to develop a bigger airport at Sundar Nagar that could cater to bigger aircraft and had offered land for the project. But flying above clouds and snow covered mountain of Himachal is itself a dream and these airports in Himachal Pradesh make it true.