Tumling Tar Airport (TMI)

Tumling Tar, NP 🇳🇵 Small Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

VNTR

IATA

TMI

Elevation

1700 ft

Region

NP-P1

Local Time

Loading...

Loading...

Airport Information

GPS Code: VNTR

Local Code: Not available

Location: 27.315001° N, 87.193298° E

Continent: AS

Type: Small Airport

External Links

Links verified by AI • Last updated: Nov 21, 2025
Nearby Points of Interest

What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Recent traveler sentiment for Tumling Tar Airport (TMI) indicates a mixed experience. While the airport is highly valued as a crucial gateway to eastern Nepal and the Makalu Barun National Park, frequent flight disruptions due to weather conditions significantly impact overall satisfaction. Travelers appreciate the accessibility it provides, but often face challenges with limited facilities and inconsistent operations.

What Travelers Love
  • Gateway to Eastern Nepal: The airport serves as a vital entry point for exploring the breathtaking landscapes and trekking opportunities, especially to Makalu Barun National Park.
  • Regular Flight Connectivity: Major domestic airlines, particularly Buddha Air, offer daily flights to and from Kathmandu and Biratnagar, which is crucial for residents and tourists alike.
  • Proximity to City Center: Tumling Tar Airport is located very close to the downtown area, approximately 0.73 km away, making onward travel convenient.
  • Sense of Safety: Its location in a flat valley provides a perceived sense of safety for air travel within the hilly region.
  • Passenger Facilities (Basic): The airport provides a waiting lounge, Wi-Fi, and Cable TV.
Common Complaints
  • Frequent Flight Disruptions: A major and common complaint is the high number of flight cancellations and delays caused by unpredictable weather conditions and poor visibility (fog, mist, and dust), with recent data from early 2025 highlighting significant disruptions.
  • Limited Terminal Facilities: The airport has limited amenities. There are conflicting reports regarding a cafeteria in the waiting lounge, and there are no baggage trolleys available.
  • Basic Security Measures: Security relies on hand-held metal detectors and CCTV surveillance, with no X-ray facility reported.
  • No On-site Banking/Refueling: Travelers have noted the absence of banks or ATMs within the airport premises, and there is no re-fueling facility for aircraft.
  • Dependence on Air Travel: Due to poor road infrastructure in the mountainous surrounding districts, air travel is often the only viable option, making flight disruptions particularly impactful for critical travel, including medical emergencies.

Overall, Tumling Tar Airport is a functionally essential airport for the region, celebrated for its connectivity to a popular national park. However, travelers should be prepared for potential flight delays or cancellations due to weather and anticipate very basic facilities, though security wait times for domestic flights are generally short (around 28-29 minutes for security and 8 minutes for immigration, if applicable for international arrivals, which is less relevant for this domestic airport). It is advisable to monitor flight status closely, especially during adverse weather conditions.

Generated False weeks ago
Loading...

Researching traveler experiences online...

Unable to generate sentiment summary. Please try again later.
This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

Loading weather data...

Loading weather data...


Airport Routes

Top Routes (by observations)
Newly Discovered
Popular Flight Routes
0 destinations displayed
Destination IATA City Aircraft Type Airline Details Route Map
Loading...
Loading routes...

Top Airlines

Operating at Tumling Tar Airport
Airlines by Flight Activity
Based on observed flight operations and route network
Airline Routes Flights Destinations Last Activity
Buddha Air
BHA / U4
1 13 1 Dec 5, 2025
For Pilots

Designation Length Width Surface Status
16/34 4000 ft - ft UNK Active

Type Description Frequency

Ident Name Type Frequency
TTR Tumlingtar NDB 227 kHz

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025
Taxis

Private taxis and 4x4 jeeps are the primary mode of transport available directly outside the airport terminal. Fares are not metered, so it is essential to negotiate and agree upon a price with the driver before beginning your journey. They provide service to the main nearby town of Khandbari and other regional destinations.

Rental Cars

Standard self-drive car rental agencies do not operate at Tumlingtar Airport. The equivalent service is hiring a private vehicle with a driver, which is a very common practice. You can arrange to hire a jeep or car for a day or for the duration of your trip by negotiating with drivers at the airport or by pre-booking through a local hotel or travel agency.

Public Transportation

There are no scheduled public bus services that stop directly at the airport terminal. The main public transportation consists of local buses and shared jeeps that operate from the nearby town of Khandbari or along the main road. Travelers would need to take a taxi or walk to the main road to access these budget-friendly but often crowded services.

Nearby Airports

Taplejung Airport
TPJ • VNTJ
Taplejung, NP
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~50 km away
Lukla Airport
LUA • VNLK
Lukla, NP
Small Airport Scheduled Service
~62 km away
Biratnagar Airport
BIR • VNVT
Biratnagar, NP
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~93 km away
Bhadrapur Airport
BDP • VNCG
Bhadrapur, NP
Small Airport Scheduled Service
~121 km away
Bagdogra Airport
IXB • VEBD
Siliguri, IN
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~133 km away
Janakpur Airport
JKR • VNJP
Janakpur, NP
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~143 km away
Rikaze Dingri Airport
DDR • ZUDR
Xigazê (Dingri), CN
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~148 km away
Taplejung Airport
TPJ • VNTJ
Taplejung, NP
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~50 km away
Biratnagar Airport
BIR • VNVT
Biratnagar, NP
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~93 km away
Bagdogra Airport
IXB • VEBD
Siliguri, IN
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~133 km away
Janakpur Airport
JKR • VNJP
Janakpur, NP
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~143 km away
Rikaze Dingri Airport
DDR • ZUDR
Xigazê (Dingri), CN
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~148 km away
Bhojpur Airport
BHP • VNBJ
Bhojpur, NP
Small Airport
~23 km away
Khanidanda Airport
NP-0015
Diktel, NP
Small Airport
~44 km away
Thamkharka Airport
VNTH
Khotang Bazar, NP
Small Airport
~44 km away
Lamidanda Airport
LDN • VNLD
Lamidanda, NP
Small Airport
~52 km away
Kangel Danda Airport
VNKL
NoneNP
Small Airport
~55 km away
Lukla Airport
LUA • VNLK
Lukla, NP
Small Airport Scheduled Service
~62 km away
Rumjatar Airport
RUM • VNRT
Rumjatar, NP
Small Airport
~64 km away
Phaplu Airport
PPL • VNPL
Phaplu, NP
Small Airport
~64 km away
Magpa Army Heliport
NP-0016
Magpa, NP
Heliport
~44 km away
Lokhim Heliport
NP-0014
Lokhim, NP
Heliport
~46 km away
Pathibhara Lodge Heliport
NP-0018
Taplejung, NP
Heliport
~57 km away
Pathibhara Devi Temple Heliport
NP-0017
Taplejung, NP
Heliport
~58 km away
Tengboche Heliport
NP-0010
Khumjung, NP
Heliport
~72 km away
Rivendell Lodge Heliport
NP-0006
Khumjung, NP
Heliport
~72 km away
Tengboche Monastery Heliport
NP-0005
Khumjung, NP
Heliport
~72 km away
Hotel Everest View Heliport
NP-0004
Khumjung, NP
Heliport
~72 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.