China Southern Airlines has expressed interest in launching flights to the newly-built airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Officials of the airline conveyed their intent to operate flights at Pokhara Regional International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport during a meeting with Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pande, at his office in Singha Durbar on Thursday.
China Southern Airlines currently operates flights between Guangzhou and Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and has a presence in over 40 countries, including Nepal. During the meeting, the airline's team lauded recent policy reforms introduced by Minister Pande to encourage international flights to regional airports.
Minister Pande welcomed the interest, stating, "I appreciate your willingness to connect Nepal's regional international airports. Pokhara is the tourist capital, while Bhairahawa is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha."
The government has been struggling to operate these two airports built with massive loan investments, allegedly due to the non-cooperation from India.
Pokhara International Airport, which began operations in early 2023, was constructed with a soft loan of Rs 22 billion from China’s EXIM Bank. It was intended to boost tourism in the city, known for its proximity to the Annapurna mountain range. However, the airport has struggled to attract international flights, leading the Government of Nepal to seek a waiver of the loan, citing the challenges in repaying it due to underutilization.
Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, built at a cost of approximately Rs 35.66 billion funded by the Asian Development Bank, was designed to serve as a gateway to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It also faced slow traffic and operational difficulties despite its completion in 2022.
In response to the operational challenges faced by both airports, the government has introduced several concessions to make them more attractive to airlines. These include waivers on service fees for ground handling, reduced aviation fuel prices, and the removal of certain taxes on air tickets. These incentives will be in effect until August 2026. The government hopes that these measures will help boost air traffic and support the repayment of construction loans.
Additionally, the government is coordinating efforts across various ministries to ensure one-stop service for the smooth operation of immigration and quarantine services at the airports to meet international standards. (With inputs from RSS)
