Nepal Airlines Prepares for Bhairahawa Flights to Hong Kong and Delhi
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is making arrangements to launch international flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport to two additional destinations. The national carrier, NAC, has announced its plans to operate flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong and Delhi.
Ramesh Paudel, spokesperson for the corporation was quoted as informing, preparations are underway to commence these flights within two weeks. Currently, the corporation is in the process of obtaining the necessary flight permits from relevant authorities. Once the flight permits are obtained, NAC will be ready to commence operations to both destinations.
At present, NAC operates one weekly flight from Kathmandu to Malaysia via Bhairahawa, using the narrow body aircraft.
"Approximately 120 passengers arrive in Nepal from Malaysia, with more than 40 passengers disembarking at Bhairahawa. We then return to Kathmandu with only a few passengers," spokesperson Paudel was quoted as stating. "We are planning to connect this flight to another international destination via Kathmandu."
Currently, the corporation operates the Kathmandu-Malaysia-Bhairahawa-Kathmandu flight every Tuesday, with Bhairahawa serving as a transit point.
NAC has been operating flights to Bhairahawa since Jestha (May-June). Furthermore, the corporation plans to add Hong Kong as a new destination, with transit through Kathmandu.
"The aircraft will now arrive in Kathmandu from Bhairahawa, and a flight will depart from Kathmandu to Hong Kong," spokesperson Paudel was quoted as explaining. "Similarly, another flight will transit through Kathmandu and proceed to Delhi."
Paudel added that in order to make Gautam Buddha International Airport fully operational, the corporation aims to connect Bhairahawa with these three destinations, which are currently served regularly from Kathmandu.
"We initiated flights from Bhairahawa to Malaysia to establish connectivity with international flights," Paudel was quoted as stating further.
The government has granted an additional one-year exemption on service charges for airlines operating at Gautam Buddha International Airport. This airport, which commenced operations on June 2, 2079 (Nepali calendar), initially provided discounts on landing, parking, communication and aviation auxiliary services, as well as security check fees for one year.
During this period, only Jazeera Airways from Kuwait operated flights. To attract more airlines, the airport has extended discounts on all charges until Jestha 2081.
Presently, Nepal Airlines is the sole international carrier operating at this airport. Jazeera Airways, which commenced commercial flights when the airport was inaugurated, has now suspended its services.
According to airport officials, Jazeera Airways suspended its flights citing commercial reasons since Baisakh 6 (April-May). Hansraj Pandey, general manager of the airport, was quoted as stating, "Initially, Jazeera suspended flights for a few days due to commercial reasons. However, it has been two months now, and we are uncertain if they will resume operations regularly."
Despite primarily targeting the tourism hub of Lumbini, the airport office anticipates an increase in international flights in the future.
Pandey was quoted as mentioning that representatives from different countries are visiting for the purpose of studying the airport's operations. A team from Myanmar National Airlines recently completed a two-day study, while representatives from Bhutan, Cambodia, Thailand, and other countries continue to visit for the same purpose.
"Although the airport is primarily aimed at serving the Lumbini region, airlines from various countries are in the pipeline to connect to this airport," General Manager Pandey was quoted as stating.
(Disclaimer: This article is a translation based on an original source. Consistency in information has been maintained for accuracy.)
