Nepal, Myanmar discuss operating direct flight from Gautam Buddha Int’l Airport

Published On: April 20, 2023 01:00 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, April 20: Nepal has started an initiative to operate a direct air service from Yagun, the capital of Myanmar, to Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) located in Bhairahawa.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the number of tourists will increase in Lumbini and the air traffic will also increase in GBIA if there is a direct flight from Myanmar, a country with a majority of Buddhists.

On Tuesday, the NTB held a high-level discussion in Kathmandu with stakeholders including the Ambassador of Myanmar to Nepal and the Ambassador of Nepal to Myanmar, high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, officials of the Lumbini Development Fund and the executive head of Myanmar National Airlines.

In the discussion, the Nepali side said that Nepal is ready to make necessary assistance if Myanmar is ready for a direct flight from Myanmar to Bhairahawa Nepal has requested the Myanmar team to proceed further with the process.

In the discussion program, Maitya Shakyaputta, Vice President of Lumbini Development Fund, mentioned that there is a good relationship between Nepal and Myanmar and said that if there is a direct flight, the number of tourists coming to Lumbini from Myanmar will increase.

Similarly, Nepali Ambassador to Myanmar Harish Chandra Ghimire expressed his belief that the Myanmar team coming to Nepal will add strength to the flight in the context of ongoing discussions with the government of Myanmar about the direct flight between Myanmar and Bhairahawa.

The Ambassador of Myanmar to Nepal, Sen O, stated that they are positive about the direct flight and promised to inform about new possibilities after studying its technical aspects.

Likewise, Captain Kup Khanmung, executive head of Myanmar National Airlines, said that he had returned to Kathmandu after inspecting GBIA. He said that he was positive about the direct flight. He also said that discussions will be carried forward with necessary technical and commercial plans for this.