Kathmandu, 29 Aug: Preparations are underway for international flights from two international airports that had been at zero. China’s Sichuan Airlines is preparing to operate flights from Pokhara Regional International Airport to Australia via Chengdu. Similarly, Jazeera Airways and Thai Air Asia are set to resume flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
Sichuan Airlines has sought permission from the regulator Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for the Pokhara-Chendu-Australia flight, the authority’s information officer Gyanendra Bhul told RSS. According to him, informal discussions have been held for the flight permission and preparations are underway to grant permission after completing the necessary procedures. The company plans to start flights from September.Â
Earlier, Sichuan Airlines had operated charter flights to Pokhara Airport for some time. The company wants to start regular flights to Australia as a new destination. According to Jagan Nath Niraula, General Manager of Pokhara International Airport, only Himalaya Airlines is operating regular flights to Pokhara.Â
Similarly, according to Bhairahawa reporter, Thai Air Asia is preparing to operate two flights a week to Gautam Buddha International Airport from October 26, while Jazeera Airways has announced plans to resume regular flights from the winter season. Both of these airlines have previously operated flights to Bhairahawa, but had suspended them for various reasons.
Currently, there are no regular international flights operating at Gautam Buddha International Airport. Nepal Airlines had started flights on the Kathmandu-Malaysia-Bhairahawa route, but it has been suspended due to lack of aircraft. Currently, only various charter flights  are operating.
The government has also provided special discounts for flight facilitation. Passenger service charges for international flights from this airport have been waived, while parking, landing and navigation charges are completely waived. In addition, a 75 percent discount has been provided on the ground handling charges paid by Nepal Airlines.
Jazeera Airways had previously started flights from Gautam Buddha Airport twice. The second flight, which was launched in February 2023, did not last even two and a half months. The company suspended the flight citing technical reasons.
