Fly Dubai, Jazeera and AirAsia to begin flights to Gautam Buddha Int'l Airport next month

KATHMANDU, Oct 14: Three international airlines are set to operate flights from Nepal's second international airport in Bhairahawa starting next month.

After a long delay in commercial operations despite its completion, Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) is now ready for international airlines to begin commercial flights.

According to Pratap Babu Tiwari, the general manager of GBIA, the airlines scheduled to operate flights include Kuwait's Jazeera Airways, Dubai's national carrier FlyDubai, and Thailand-based Thai AirAsia. All three airlines have received flight permits from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The airport has confirmed that the flight schedules have been finalized.

FlyDubai will begin regular flights to GBIA starting on November 9, marking the airline's inaugural service at the airport. FlyDubai plans to operate daily flights from Bhairahawa to Dubai, with a stop in Kathmandu.

General Manager Tiwari stated that FlyDubai's flight will arrive in Bhairahawa from Dubai at 1:45 PM and depart for Dubai via Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at 3:30 PM. A technical team from FlyDubai recently visited GBIA to assess the available services and facilities in preparation for the upcoming flights.

Similarly, Jazeera Airways will resume flights on October 28, after suspending operations for 10 months. Jazeera will operate three flights a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Jazeera's flights will arrive in Bhairahawa at 7:30 AM and depart for Kuwait at 8:30 AM, according to airport officials. Jazeera initially began flights to Bhairahawa on May 16, 2022, following the inauguration of GBIA, but suspended operations due to technical reasons.

In addition, Thai AirAsia is planning to start flights to GBIA soon. A technical team from the airline recently visited the airport. According to General Manager Tiwari, the team was briefed on the airport's operations and potential market opportunities. However, the airline has yet to announce when flights will commence.

Thai AirAsia, which began direct flights to Nepal on October 2, operates a fleet of around 60 aircraft and serves key destinations in Asia. The airline’s flights are expected to enhance tourism and business ties between Nepal and Thailand, which already see over 40,000 Thai tourists visiting Nepal annually.

Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya expressed confidence that the new flights would strengthen both air connectivity and cultural relations between the two countries.

GBIA is part of the government’s strategy to fully utilize Nepal's two international airports. General Manager Tiwari noted that special efforts are being made to create a favorable environment for international flights in line with this plan.

The airport's management has ensured that immigration, customs, and security procedures are fully operational. Bishnu Prasad Dhungana, Chief Immigration Officer at GBIA, said that preparations are underway to handle the upcoming flights from Jazeera Airways and FlyDubai.

“We are fully prepared, and the technical manpower arrangements have been communicated to the central office. Once the airlines start operations, we are ready to provide smooth passenger service,” Dhungana said.

The CAAN is coordinating with various agencies to ensure all preparations, including passenger service counters and automation systems, are in place. Currently, the airport has 21 passenger service counters, with some technical aspects still under management.

With maintenance work at Tribhuvan International Airport, GBIA may see an increase in flights, and additional airlines have expressed interest in operating there. A recent on-site inspection by a team, including the Director General of the Department of Immigration, aimed to streamline immigration services at GBIA.

The government has initiated plans to operate GBIA and Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) at full capacity, both of which are considered national pride projects. Incentives, including discounts on air tickets and aviation fuel, have been offered to encourage airlines to use these airports.

On August 12, the cabinet approved an action plan for comprehensive reform in the civil aviation sector, including the operational strategies for GBIA and PRIA. The plan includes incentives for airlines to help both airports reach full capacity.

Meetings led by the Prime Minister and involving relevant ministers and officials are ongoing to ensure the effective operation of both airports. A task force has been established to study options for maximizing airport operations.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, the plan includes incentives for air tickets, ground handling, and aviation fuel until mid-September 2026. The Nepal Tourism Board has also announced that it will waive ticket fees for both airports and suspend VAT on air tickets during this period. Additionally, a plan is in place to procure fuel for Bhairahawa at a lower price than at Kathmandu airport.

After 74 years of operations at Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal now has a second international airport in Bhairahawa, which first began as a domestic airport in 1958. The airport has since been expanded and transformed into an international facility.