Kathmandu, 18 Nov: Nepal Airlines Corporation has decided to use Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa as an alternate airport in case aircraft cannot land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
According to spokesperson Anil Ghimire, the decision will be effective from Mangsir 3 (November 19).
In a statement issued on Monday, the airline said that using an alternate airport would save time and reduce operating costs. The corporation also stated that it will begin a study to designate Pokhara International Airport as an alternate option.
Why the Change?
Last Friday morning, Nepal Airlines flight ‘RA 230’ from Dubai to Kathmandu was diverted to Delhi. Although it was scheduled to land at 9:40 AM in Kathmandu, the airport’s international parking area was congested, forcing the aircraft to hold in the air over Simara.
According to airport authorities, the plane was kept in a holding pattern for 30 minutes due to air traffic congestion. Even after that, when the air traffic controller informed that it would take an additional 25 minutes for a parking bay to become available, the flight was diverted to Delhi.
This incident raised questions about why the flight went to Delhi despite Nepal having other international airports.
How Alternate Airports Are Chosen
Before any flight takes off, a ‘flight plan’ is filed, which includes details such as route, altitude, fuel load, pilot information, and alternate airports in case landing at the destination is not possible. Typically, one destination and two alternate airports are designated.
Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul explained that decisions on diverting during mid-air holding depend on weather conditions and available services at the alternate airports. Pilots or the airline’s operations team make the final decision, not the aviation authority.
He clarified that even though Kathmandu’s other international airports like Bhairahawa and Pokhara are operational, pilots may still choose other airports like Delhi if it better suits their needs. However, technically, wide-body aircraft can land in Bhairahawa and narrow-body aircraft in Pokhara without issues.
Nepal Airlines’ Decision
Respecting the autonomy of airlines to choose alternate airports, Nepal Airlines has now formally designated Bhairahawa as its alternate landing site. This aligns with international norms, where no aviation authority can compel airlines to use a specific alternate airport.
The corporation believes this move will improve operational efficiency and safety, and may eventually benefit domestic airports by increasing their usage in international operations.
