Kathmandu, April 2 -- Air service to Lukla in the Himalaya will be operated from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap from Tuesday as Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport will be partially closed for renovation.

The shift to Manthali will take off a lot of pressure from Tribhuvan International Airport as at least 90 takeoffs and landings will be transferred. Lukla, the gateway to Everest, accounts for 20 percent of the 500 daily flight movements at Kathmandu's airport in the peak season.

Manthali, located 132 km northeast of Kathmandu, is a 5-hour drive. The airport is situated at an elevation of 474 metres above sea level and has a 518-metre runway.

The runway at Tribhuvan International Airport will remain open for only 14 hours daily...