Nepal Airlines is set to begin flights between Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa, Nepal, and Dubai, UAE, starting Friday, November 8. The national carrier will operate four weekly flights on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The flights will depart from Kathmandu at 9:30 pm, pick up passengers in Bhairahawa about 30 minutes later, and continue on to Dubai.
In addition to Nepal Airlines, Fly Dubai (UAE), Jazeera Airways (Kuwait), and Thai AirAsia (Thailand) are also scheduled to launch regular services from GBIA. Thai AirAsia began its operations on November 3, with flights to Bangkok twice a week. The next flight to Bangkok is set for November 8, with one-way fares starting at NPR 12,000. Fly Dubai will commence its service on November 9, followed by Jazeera Airways on November 10.
According to the Office of GBIA, a total of four airlines are now scheduled to operate from the airport, with Qatar Airways and Air Arabia also expressing interest, although their schedules are still pending approval.
While these new developments are promising, some local tourism entrepreneurs have expressed concerns over the sustainability of these services, citing the possibility of flight cancellations due to low passenger demand—a challenge that has affected previous airlines operating from the airport. Jazeera Airways and others have suspended operations within a month of starting their services due to insufficient passengers.
Local business owners have invested heavily in hotels and tourism infrastructure, anticipating a steady flow of international passengers. CP Shrestha, a prominent tourism entrepreneur, warned that the Rs. 80 billion invested in the sector is at risk if the flights fail to maintain consistent demand.
Despite these challenges, industry leaders are optimistic. Sagar Adhikari, former president of the Lumbini Province chapter of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), believes the commitment of three airlines to regular flights is a hopeful sign for Bhairahawa and the surrounding region, bringing a renewed sense of optimism to the local tourism sector.
