LUMBINI: Nepal Airlines Corporation has launched commercial flight targeting Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa after 13 months of the operation of airport.
Nepal Airlines' 158-seater landed at the airport at 9:45 am today carrying 90 passengers from Malaysia.
Joint Spokesperson of the national flag carrier, Ganesh Kumar Ghimire, said the aeroplane took off for Kathmandu after dropping off 31 passengers at the airport.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, and State Minister for Tourism, Sushila Sirpali Thakuri, were present at the international airport to welcome passengers in Bhairahawa as it was the first commercial flight of NAC to the airport.
[caption id="attachment_38047" align="alignnone" width="1000"]
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, cutting cake to inaugurate Nepal Airlines Corporation's commercial flight at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi district, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Photo: RSS[/caption]
Inaugurating the NAC commercial flight at the airport, Minister Kirati said it was challenging to give continuity to commercial flights for Bhairahawa.
He said efforts from the both government and private sector were necessary for the continuation of the service.
Minister Kirati asked authorities concerned to lay an emphasis on publicity for stability, effective operation and market of Nepal Airlines in the coming days. He mentioned that efforts were underway to operate flights at other destinations including New Delhi from GBIA.
[caption id="attachment_38048" align="alignnone" width="1000"]
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, addresses a programme organised to launch the Nepal Airlines Corporation's commercial flight at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi district, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Photo: RSS[/caption]
Tourism Minister Kirati further said it was necessary to buy new aircraft to operate the NAC in a fully commercial manner and to provide air service to people of remote areas, stating that the government was in the process to purchase aircraft in a transparent manner.
Similarly, Tourism State Minister Thakuri said the government attached top priority to the need for regular commercial operation of the airport as it was constructed with the aim of promoting identity and heritage of Lumbini Province globally.
Stating that questions were raised from many quarters against the irregular operation of flight, she mentioned that political instability was the main cause for that.
Likewise, former Minister and federal lawmaker from Rupandehi Constituency No. 3, Deepak Bohora, said the operation of NAC commercial flight at the airport raised hopes for the effective presence of the airport.
He also advised the government to make a policy that every company operating international flights from Tribhuvan International Airport has to operate one flight each at Bhairahawa.
Secretary at the Ministry, Suresh Adhikari, shared that launching the commercial flight at Gautam Buddha International Airport from Malaysia is a significant achievement.
He further said a branch office of Tourism Board will be established in Bhairahawa next year as per the demand of tourism entrepreneurs of Bhairahawa.
Similarly, Executive Chairman of NAC, Ubaraj Adhikari, said regular flights can be operated in a commercial manner after NAC gets additional aircraft, pointing out the need for making the flights at Bhairahawa regular in order to connect Buddhist countries.
The then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the airport on May 16, 2022.
By RSS
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Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, cutting cake to inaugurate Nepal Airlines Corporation's commercial flight at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi district, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Photo: RSS[/caption]
Inaugurating the NAC commercial flight at the airport, Minister Kirati said it was challenging to give continuity to commercial flights for Bhairahawa.
He said efforts from the both government and private sector were necessary for the continuation of the service.
Minister Kirati asked authorities concerned to lay an emphasis on publicity for stability, effective operation and market of Nepal Airlines in the coming days. He mentioned that efforts were underway to operate flights at other destinations including New Delhi from GBIA.
[caption id="attachment_38048" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, addresses a programme organised to launch the Nepal Airlines Corporation's commercial flight at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi district, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Photo: RSS[/caption]
Tourism Minister Kirati further said it was necessary to buy new aircraft to operate the NAC in a fully commercial manner and to provide air service to people of remote areas, stating that the government was in the process to purchase aircraft in a transparent manner.
Similarly, Tourism State Minister Thakuri said the government attached top priority to the need for regular commercial operation of the airport as it was constructed with the aim of promoting identity and heritage of Lumbini Province globally.
Stating that questions were raised from many quarters against the irregular operation of flight, she mentioned that political instability was the main cause for that.
Likewise, former Minister and federal lawmaker from Rupandehi Constituency No. 3, Deepak Bohora, said the operation of NAC commercial flight at the airport raised hopes for the effective presence of the airport.
He also advised the government to make a policy that every company operating international flights from Tribhuvan International Airport has to operate one flight each at Bhairahawa.
Secretary at the Ministry, Suresh Adhikari, shared that launching the commercial flight at Gautam Buddha International Airport from Malaysia is a significant achievement.
He further said a branch office of Tourism Board will be established in Bhairahawa next year as per the demand of tourism entrepreneurs of Bhairahawa.
Similarly, Executive Chairman of NAC, Ubaraj Adhikari, said regular flights can be operated in a commercial manner after NAC gets additional aircraft, pointing out the need for making the flights at Bhairahawa regular in order to connect Buddhist countries.
The then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the airport on May 16, 2022.
By RSS
READ ALSO:
Published Date: June 13, 2023, 12:00 am
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