Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), Nepal’s second international airport, which has seen limited international flights since its inauguration, saw a significant increase in activity on Saturday with three international flights arriving and departing.
Jazeera Airways, which had suspended its operations shortly after the airport’s opening, resumed flights on Saturday. The airline’s flight from Kuwait landed at GBIA at 7:30 AM with 171 passengers and took off an hour later at 8:30 AM with 168 passengers, including one child.
In addition to Jazeera Airways, Emirati carrier FlyDubai and Nepal Airlines also operated flights at GBIA on the same day. Thai AirAsia’s flight from Bangkok had previously arrived at GBIA on November 3, with regular service now scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays. This brings the total number of international flights operating from Bhairahawa to four.
Regular Operations and Future Prospects
Jazeera Airways is now operating flights to and from GBIA three days a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. FlyDubai’s flight from Dubai arrived at 2:33 PM on Saturday, carrying 186 passengers, and departed for Kathmandu at 3:41 PM with 176 passengers.
Nepal Airlines is also offering flights between Kathmandu, Bhairahawa, and Dubai three times a week—on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. These flights depart from Kathmandu at 10:20 PM, reach Bhairahawa at 11:25 PM, and continue on to Dubai.
Local Passengers Celebrate Convenience
Local residents expressed enthusiasm about the direct international flights to GBIA, which save them time compared to the longer journey to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. Tijan Rana, a resident of Devdaha Municipality who arrived from Kuwait, shared his excitement. “We were eagerly waiting for the airport to start operations. I’m happy to land in Bhairahawa for the first time. Now, I don’t have to travel to Kathmandu for connecting flights.”
Ambassador of Nepal to Kuwait, Ghanshyam Lamsal, who also arrived on the inaugural flight, expressed his joy at landing in Bhairahawa. He highlighted the potential for enhanced relations between Nepal and Kuwait and emphasized the importance of regular airport operations. “This will help strengthen the relationship between our countries and make travel more convenient for Nepali citizens,” he said, urging continued support for the airport’s operations.
Looking Ahead
Spokesperson for GBIA, Dipak Kumar Bajracharya, reported that the smooth operation of three international flights on Saturday shows promise for the future. He also noted that the airport is expecting an increase in flight activity, especially with the 10-hour closure of Tribhuvan International Airport.
Discussions are ongoing with several international carriers, including Qatar Airways and Air Arabia, about future services to and from GBIA. According to Bajracharya, the airport is currently operational for 18 hours a day, with the capacity to handle two international flights per hour, totaling up to 36 flights daily. “The manpower at Immigration and other departments is now fully sufficient, and we can further scale operations as needed,” he added.
