---
title: "Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport (VNLK / LUA)"
description: "Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport (ICAO VNLK, IATA LUA) is at an altitude of 2,845 m (9,334 ft) above sea level, in Solukhumbu district, Nepal. A breath there holds about 71% of a sea-level breath's oxygen, like breathing 14.7% oxygen at the coast. By helicopter from Kathmandu: 135 km in a straight line, 35–38 minutes in the air."
source: "https://gohelinepal.com/airports/vnlk"
markdown: "https://gohelinepal.com/md/airports/vnlk"
site: "Go Heli Nepal"
---

# Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport: VNLK · LUA

Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport (ICAO VNLK, IATA LUA) is at an altitude of 2,845 m (9,334 ft) above sea level, in Solukhumbu district, Nepal. A breath there holds about 71% of a sea-level breath's oxygen, like breathing 14.7% oxygen at the coast. By helicopter from Kathmandu: 135 km in a straight line, 35–38 minutes in the air.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Codes | ICAO VNLK · IATA LUA | ICAO for pilots, IATA for airline tickets |
| Type | Airport with scheduled flights | Scheduled airline service |
| Elevation | 2,845 m (9,334 ft) | Above sea level |
| Air at this height | 14.7% effective oxygen · 715 hPa | 71% of a sea-level breath; sea level is 20.9% at 1,013 hPa. Standard atmosphere, not a forecast |
| Coordinates | 27.6869° N, 86.7292° E | Solukhumbu district, Nepal |
| From Kathmandu | 35–38 minutes in the air | 135 km in a straight line. Cruise time only; ground time is on top |
| Flights | 1 private charter leg: [Lukla to Kathmandu private charter](https://gohelinepal.com/charter/vnlk-to-vnkt) |  |

## Questions

### How high is Lukla above sea level?

Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport is 2,845 m (9,334 ft) above sea level, the airport's surveyed elevation. It is in Solukhumbu district, Nepal, at 27.6869° N, 86.7292° E.

### How much oxygen is there at Lukla?

Air at Lukla, 2,845 m (9,334 ft) up, is still 20.9% oxygen, but the pressure is about 715 hPa against 1,013 hPa at sea level. A breath there holds about 71% of the oxygen of a sea-level breath, the same as breathing 14.7% oxygen at the coast. These are standard-atmosphere figures, not a forecast.

### How long is the helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla?

A helicopter covers the 135 km straight line from Kathmandu to Lukla in 35–38 minutes in the air, depending on the aircraft: the 14 on this platform cruise at 118 to 125 knots. That is cruise time only; the quoted block time adds start-up, the climb, any weather hold and the minutes on the ground.

### Can a helicopter fly to Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport?

Yes, as a private charter. No published route runs through Lukla Tenzing-Hillary, so we quote it against your date, your party and the landing permissions.

### What is the nearest airport to Hotel Everest View?

Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport (VNLK, LUA), about 15 km from the Hotel Everest View landing site in a straight line. It is also the nearest airport with scheduled flights to Kala Patthar (36 km).

## Nearest other sites

- [Syangboche Airport](https://gohelinepal.com/airports/vnsb) — 14 km, straight line
- [Hotel Everest View landing site](https://gohelinepal.com/airports/npev) — 15 km, straight line
- [Kala Patthar landing site](https://gohelinepal.com/airports/npkp) — 36 km, straight line
- [Tumlingtar Airport](https://gohelinepal.com/airports/vntr) — 62 km, straight line