Qatar Airways has launched daily flights to and from Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, starting from today, November 12. According to stakeholders, the airline's inaugural flight marks a significant milestone for the airport, Nepal's second international gateway.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) confirmed that Qatar Airways will operate daily flights between Kathmandu and Bhairahawa starting today. Gyanendra Bhul, the authority's Information Officer, described this as a symbolic achievement for the country.
"Having international flights from Bhairahawa signifies that Nepal's airport has been recognized by the global aviation community," Bhul said. "This is an important step not only for Nepal's air connectivity but also for the economic potential of the surrounding region, as major international airlines like Qatar Airways will be operating scheduled flights here."
Bhul further noted that the arrival of international airlines at Gautam Buddha Airport would foster competition in the market, potentially leading to lower airfares. He emphasized that while fuel prices and air service agreements affect ticket prices, the new international routes could help reduce costs by increasing competition.
The government has also announced a package of concessions aimed at attracting more airlines to the new airport. Currently, Qatar Airways operates two daily flights to Kathmandu and one daily flight to Bhairahawa. The airline will continue one daily flight to Bhairahawa until November 30. Before maintenance began at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Qatar Airways had been operating four daily flights to Kathmandu.
With Qatar Airways joining the roster, Gautam Buddha International Airport now serves five international airlines. The airport began international operations earlier this year, after years of construction delays. On October 30, the airport witnessed operation of three international flights on the same day for the first time, marking a milestone in the airport’s operations.
Other airlines already operating international flights from Gautam Buddha include Nepal Airlines, Jazeera Airways, Fly Dubai, and Thai AirAsia. Fly Dubai began operations from the airport on November 10, with daily flights between Dubai and Bhairahawa, as well as between Bhairahawa and Kathmandu. Nepal Airlines is operating flights to Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.
Gautam Buddha International Airport was officially inaugurated on May 16, 2022. As part of the government’s plan to fully operationalize both of the country’s international airports, it is expected that the airport will soon operate at full capacity.
TIA Upgrades Underway
Meanwhile, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is undergoing significant upgrades. The expansion includes the construction of a new taxiway and improvements to the international apron. The expansion work is being carried out from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am daily to minimize disruptions to regular flights.
The air transport capacity enhancement project, which started in November 8, will include the construction of a parallel taxiway on the southwest side of the airport, as well as expansions to the north and east aprons. The project is expected to improve the efficiency of operations at TIA and boost its capacity for handling increasing passenger traffic.
