More than 6,000 passengers traveled through Gautam Buddha International Airport last month, marking the highest monthly figure since the airport resumed international flights on November 3, 2023, after a ten-month disruption.

According to airport data, 6,779 passengers flew on 115 flights in February. When flights resumed in November, 4,279 passengers traveled from the airport. The numbers stood at 3,878 in December and 1,365 in January.

Between November and February, Fly Dubai carried 2,403 passengers, Jazeera Airways transported 3,265, and Thai AirAsia flew 1,097 passengers. Additionally, 211 passengers traveled on a regular flight and 13 chartered flights of Nepal Airlines. During the same period, 4,400 transit passengers used Nepal Airlines and Fly Dubai flights connecting through Tribhuvan International Airport.

Operations at the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) were disrupted for ten months due to the lack of airlines willing to operate from the airport, primarily citing low passenger demand and high operational costs. Although the airport, inaugurated on May 16, 2022, formally began operations on April 21, 2022, it has struggled to attract regular international flights. Airlines have expressed concerns over limited demand, inadequate commercial incentives, and high fuel costs compared to regional competitors.

To address these challenges, the government has introduced various incentive packages, including fuel and ticket subsidies, to encourage airlines to operate from GBIA and Pokhara International Airport. As part of broader civil aviation reforms, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation plans to waive ticket, ground handling, and aviation fuel charges until September 2026. The Nepal Tourism Board has also committed to exempting ticket charges for both airports, while VAT on air tickets will not be imposed until the same period. Additionally, fuel prices at Bhairahawa are expected to be lower than those at Kathmandu Airport, following coordination with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies.