Thai Air Asia launched its inaugural Bangkok-Bhairahawa-Bangkok flight on Sunday, connecting the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) with a new destination.

A Thai Air Asia Airbus A-320 landed at GBIA at 6:55 a.m., carrying seven crew members as part of an initial test flight, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported citing Binod Singh Raut, Information Officer at GBIA. The airline is scheduled to operate two regular weekly flights on this route starting November 8.

According to RSS, GBIA officials, security personnel, immigration staff, and local tourism entrepreneurs warmly welcomed the inaugural flight on Sunday. The aircraft took off for Bangkok from GBIA at 7:40 a.m. following a brief reception. The one-way fare from Bhairahawa to Bangkok has been fixed at Rs 12,000.

Opened in May 2022 as Nepal's second international airport, GBIA has faced significant challenges in attracting international airlines. Located in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the airport holds strategic significance for tourism but has struggled due to lack of interest from airline companies amid limited demand, operational costs, and regional competition. To attract airlines, the government has offered various concessions, including reduced landing and parking fees, discounts on ground handling, and tax incentives, yet uptake has remained slow.

Thai Air Asia’s decision to operate at GBIA is is expected to support local tourism by linking Bhairahawa directly with a major Southeast Asian hub.