Buddha starts Ktm-Banaras flight

KATHMANDU, March 2: 

Buddha Air, the leading private airlines company, started Kathmandu-Baranas flights from Thursday. 

The company has started the service with one way fare of Rs 5,031, including taxes, for Nepali passengers. Foreigners will need to pay Rs 12,000 per person. 

Addressing a function organized at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista Magar expressed hope that Buddha would provide reliable and quality services at affordable rates. He said the government was serious about addressing the problems related with Airspace and routes.

Birendra Bahadur Basnet, managing director of Buddha Air said that the company was also preparing to launch flights between Pokhara and Lucknow soon. “We will start the services as soon as necessary infrastructures are built in the Pokhara Airport,” he stated.

As Banaras attracts 30,000 local as well and foreign tourists everyday, the company officials said they aim to bring a substantial chunk of those visitors to Nepal. To realize this goal, the airlines company has developed a "travel package" in collaboration with various travel agencies.

Buddha had opened bookings for Kathmandu-Banaras flights about two months ago. Officials said the volume of bookings was encouraging.

Though the company has received permit to operate daily flight, it has presently unveiled a schedule of one flight every four days. The company is operating flights with 47-seater ATR-42 on the route. Once the volume of passengers goes up, the company is plans to operate 72-seater aircraft.

Moreover, the company has announced that it is preparing to start flights between Kathmandu and Kolkata of India in August this year.

Source: Republica