Lukla

Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Lukla, IATA: LUA), opened in 1964, is a single-terminal, high-altitude airstrip that serves as the primary gateway to Everest and the Solu-Khumbu trekking region. Compact but crucial, Lukla’s short, sloped runway and one small passenger building handle frequent morning flights from Kathmandu (about 30–40 minutes) and helicopter services when weather allows, with ground access limited to multi-day treks. Flights are highly weather-dependent and seat-limited, so fares tend to be relatively expensive compared with other domestic routes; the airport is regularly served by small carriers and charter operators such as Tara Air, Summit Air and other regional operators.