Even though Bathpalathang airport in Bumthang continues to see a minimum of three flights a week, the airport does not have foolproof safety measures in place. The airport lacks apron, an area of an airport where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refuelled, or boarded.
Without an apron, an aircraft is parked on the runway where the passengers disembark, raising safety concerns for both the aircraft and passengers.
Construction of a new apron that began a year ago is almost complete.
“The new apron will be used only once when we have the new terminal building,” said the Joint Director of the Department of Civil Aviation, Karma Wangchuk. The terminal building is quite far from where the apron is being built.
Along with the apron, the airport is seeing a major makeover under Air Transport Connecting Enhancement Project.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the entire project is worth over Nu 51 M. Once complete, the airport will have the capacity to accommodate two ATR aircrafts.
The second phase of the construction will also have terminal building.
The new addition to the airport’s infrastructure is a response to the increasing demand for all-cargo handling facilities which would help increase reliability and sustainability of the airport.
Construction of two parking lots near the apron is also about to be complete.
Within the premise of the apron, there is also a fire station house. The Department of Civil Aviation will inspect the site before it is put to use.
