The business community in Bhairahawa has voiced strong disappointment after international flights once again avoided Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) during diversions from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
TIA’s operations were halted for nearly five hours on Saturday due to a technical failure in its airfield lighting system, forcing Korean Air and Fly Dubai to divert to Delhi and Lucknow instead of Nepal’s two newer international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara.
Local industrialists and residents expressed frustration over this recurring trend, questioning why diverted flights regularly land in neighboring countries despite Nepal having alternative international airports available. Witnesses reported that both aircraft flew over Bhairahawa’s airspace without attempting to land. Similar incidents occurred last year when Vistara and Fly Dubai diverted to Lucknow rather than GBIA.
Although GBIA was designed to serve as an emergency alternative to Kathmandu, it has handled only three diverted international flights so far, including one by Air China. Despite being inaugurated as a national pride project on May 15, 2022, the airport has yet to reach full operational capacity, with no regular international services currently operating.
Sources familiar with the matter say GBIA lacks adequate facilities for emergency night operations, including accommodation and support services for passengers and crew. The absence of qualified technical staff—especially engineers—has further discouraged airlines from choosing the airport. “There is a ground handling team at Bhairahawa, but it does not include engineers,” said GBIA spokesperson Shyam Kishor Saha, noting that this staffing gap is a major deterrent.
Stakeholders also pointed to fuel price differences, with aviation fuel reportedly cheaper in India. Nevertheless, they argue that GBIA is geographically closer to Kathmandu than Lucknow, making domestic diversions more efficient and economical. Even Nepal Airlines has repeatedly chosen Lucknow over Bhairahawa during diversions.
Local business leader Thakur Kumar Shrestha, former chairperson of the Siddhartha Commerce and Industry Association, criticized the government for failing to promote GBIA diplomatically and commercially. “Saturday’s incident shows that these two regional international airports were built only for namesake,” he said.
Despite being costly national projects, both the Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports remain underutilized and largely dependent on domestic traffic. The lack of foreign employment agencies and limited travel operators supporting outbound travelers has also reduced demand for international flights.
GBIA had been fully closed since April 2025, except for a few chartered operations. Air Asia recently resumed two weekly flights this month. During last year’s winter schedule, the airport handled 12,787 arriving and 11,111 departing passengers.
