January 8: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) which also conducts evening and night flights to various internal destinations has recently increased the duration of such flights, according to a news published by Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS).

The state-run news agency said that the night flights are currently available from TIA to Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi, and preparations are on to connect two more destinations - Chandragadhi and Janakpur - to the schedule very soon.

According to managing director of TIA, Raj Kumar Chhetri, the evening flights were earlier available for only an hour from 5 pm to 6 pm but have been now extended to till 9:00 pm.

The managing director informed that works to prepare required infrastructures including the runway are taking place to operate night flights to the two new domestic destinations.

Prior to this, the domestic flight schedule was from 7 am to 6 pm. Only international flights used to operate at night. According to the airport sources, 25 flight schedules of various airlines had been approved for night flights in the fourth week of August, RSS further reported. As per this approved schedule, Buddha Air had proposed 14 flights, Shree Airlines four flights and Yeti Airlines seven flights.

The government had brought the International Airport into operation for 21 hours since May 21. At present, the airport is open for 22 hours daily after the domestic terminal building started operation from 5 am since September 1 last year. RSS reported that this provision has helped ease the air traffic congestion at the airport.