A building near the airport at Koteswor that flouts the building code and obstructs air traffic has prompted airlines to complain to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) but the owner Shanta Lal Shahi has ignored warnings because he enjoys political protection.
International airlines say they are forced to impose load-penalty on takeoff, incurring huge losses.
The 8-storey building is located 300 m to the south of the runway threshold. Said one representative of a Gulf-based airline: “Our repeated appeals to take down the building have fallen on deaf ears.” Shahi ignored warnings and even added another floor. “There has been a serious problem of flight safety due to the construction of tall buildings around the airport,” admits Birendra Shrestha of Nepal Airlines. When the runway is extended by another 300m, the building will pose an even greater hazard.