With groundwork nearing completion, the ambitious aviation project is moving towards the development of a 3,000-metre runway and essential airfield infrastructure ahead of its planned December 2029 opening.
Construction of the Gelephu International Airport is set to enter a significant new phase, with authorities awarding a major contract for the development of its runway and supporting airfield infrastructure. The development marks an important milestone in Bhutan’s efforts to strengthen international connectivity through the ambitious Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (GMCA) has awarded the airfield construction contract to Rigsar-Vajra Joint Venture, the consortium currently responsible for the project’s initial earthworks package. The decision comes as ground preparation activities approach completion, paving the way for construction of the airport’s permanent aviation facilities.
The latest phase represents a transition from site preparation to the development of operational infrastructure that will eventually accommodate international commercial flights.
Speaking at the contract award ceremony, GMCA Co-Chief Executive Officer Lee Seow Hiang highlighted the significance of the transition, describing it as a move towards establishing the infrastructure required to connect Bhutan more closely with the rest of the world.
Central to the development is a 3,000-metre runway designed to accommodate wide-bodied commercial aircraft, potentially expanding the range of international air services that Gelephu could support.
The construction package also covers taxiways, aircraft parking aprons, airfield lighting, an air traffic control tower and specialised aviation systems essential for airport operations.
Among the planned installations is an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which provides pilots with precision guidance during their approach to the runway. The technology is particularly important during periods of reduced visibility, helping aircraft maintain the appropriate alignment and descent path for landing.
Beyond expanding aviation capacity, the project is being undertaken with an emphasis on construction quality, environmental responsibility and operational safety.
GMCA Head of City Development Tashi Penjor underscored these priorities during the ceremony, stressing that decisions made during the construction phase would have lasting implications for the airport’s performance and reliability.
“The standards that we set today will define the airport for tomorrow. Therefore, let us approach this project with urgency but never at the expense of quality, with ambition but never at the expense of our environment, and with speed but always with safety and integrity,” Penjor said.
The authorities plan to hand over designated construction areas progressively over the coming month, enabling work on the airfield to commence as sections of the site become available.
Runway and airfield development will proceed alongside the construction of the passenger terminal and associated landside facilities. Coordinating these major components will be essential to meeting the airport’s scheduled opening in December 2029.
The project is also expected to generate substantial employment during its construction period, with the workforce projected to exceed 800 workers at peak activity.
As a major infrastructure component of Gelephu Mindfulness City, the international airport is intended to provide a new aviation gateway for Bhutan. Its capacity to handle larger commercial aircraft could support the city’s longer-term ambitions to attract international visitors, businesses and investment, although the eventual scale of connectivity will depend on airline operations and demand.
With the initial earthworks nearing their conclusion and the airfield contract now awarded, the project is approaching a stage in which its core aviation infrastructure will begin to take physical shape.
The coming construction phase will therefore be pivotal in transforming the Gelephu site into an operational international airport, bringing Bhutan a step closer to establishing a new gateway for global connectivity.
