KATHMANDU, Dec 16: Tikapur Airport in Kailali, which was closed for regular flights since February 1997, officially resumed its services beginning Sunday.
A Tara Air flight YT 1701, carrying 16 passengers, landed at Tikapur Airport at 1:44 pm, marking the commencement of regular flights to the region.
The airport's reopening was possible through special efforts of Tikapur municipality, in coordination with Tara Air and Yeti Airlines. Tikapur Airport first launched its operations on October 11, 1984.
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According to Ram Lal Dagora Tharu, the Mayor of Tikapur Municipality, flights will now operate from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj from Yeti Airlines, and then connecting flights will be operated to Tikapur by Tara Air. The initiative also involves active participation from local tourism entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
Regular flights will be available every Sunday and Thursday, operating on the Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Tikapur and Tikapur-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu routes. The municipality has signed an agreement with Tara Air to ensure a minimum of 15 seats per flight. Previously, test flights had been conducted by Nepal Airlines and Tara Air.
For the Kathmandu-Tikapur flight, a one-way fare has been set at Rs 9,000. Mayor Dagora Tharu acknowledged the efforts of various individuals and organizations, including Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, and Minister of State Arun Kumar Chaudhary, who deserve credit for their roles in bringing the airport back into operation.
Minister Arun Chaudhary expressed his commitment to further improving the condition of Tikapur Airport, with plans to introduce direct flights from Kathmandu to Tikapur shortly. He also thanked all the parties involved in the airport's reopening.
Pathil Holidays has been appointed as the authorized sales agent for selling air tickets to Tikapur. Tickets can be purchased at their outlets in Siddhartha Hotel in Tikapur and Tinkune in Kathmandu, as well as through travel agencies.
With the resumption of services, residents from nearby areas such as Kailali, Surkhet, and Bardiya, who previously relied on flights from Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj, are expected to benefit from the renewed connectivity. While the runway is gravel-based, plans are in place to upgrade it once regular flights begin.
