A Twin Otter (9N ABX) of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) conducted a test flight in the airport before operating a chartered flight with Ministry for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista and Minister for Education Dinanath Sharma onboard from Pokhara Airport. NAC´s Senior Captain Suabsh Rijal operated the flight.[break]
Established in 1961, the airport was shut down after Baglung-Pokhara Highway was constructed in 1991.
The government had spent Rs 2.5 million to bring the airstrip back into operation. The amount was invested to repair runway and control tower.
Captain Rijal said the flight took 13 minutes and that it was a normal landing.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Bista said that government would make necessary efforts to operate regular flights at the Balewa Airport.
“We are preparing to bring seven other closed airports into operation by the end of this year,” he said, adding that the government has allocated Rs 590 million for the purpose.
Pratap Tiwari, chief of Pokhara Airport, said two flights could be operated to the airport from Pokhara every week at present.
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