Kathmandu, April 21
Preparations have reached the final stage to operate international flights from the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Nepal’s second international airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has already decided that the airport’s runway will be open for international flights on May 16 on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.
Jazeera Airways, an airline from Kuwait, has already received a permit to conduct three flights between Bhairahawa and Kuwait City a week, informs Pradeep Adhikari, the general manager of the authority.
Meanwhile, Nepali companies already operating international flights have not shown any interest. The national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)’s Executive Chairman Ubaraj Adhikari says discussions are underway on whether to conduct flights from/to the airport.
“Of course, we will conduct the flights, but we are studying which destination is appropriate.”
Another company Himalayaya Airlines has also not launched any plan to conduct flights here.
The domestic flight leader, Buddha Air, says it wants to extend its international destinations after the international airport in Pokhara comes into operation, but it would not conduct international flights from Bhairahawa.
