New runway at GBIA to be operational from April 21

KATHMANDU: A new runway at Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa will be brought into operation from April 21. Until now, the 1,500-metre runaway was operative in the second international airport based in Bhairahawa. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale recently instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to operate the new 3,000-metre runway at the earliest. The Minister also instructed the authorities to make arrangements to run the airport round-the-clock, informed CAAN Director General Pradeep Kumar Adhikari. The international airport will commence international flights on May 16, coinciding with Buddha Purnima, according to Adhikari. Jazeera Airways of Kuwait has submitted an application to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) seeking permission to operate regular flights to GBIA from May 16 coinciding with Buddha Jayanti. Altogether five airlines — Jazeera Airways of Kuwait, SriLankan Airlines of Sri Lanka, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), Qatar Airways and Thai Smile Airlines of Thailand — have shown interest to operate regular flights at the country's second international airport. By RSS READ ALSO:

• Five airlines show interest to operate commercial flights at GBIA
• Jazeera Airways to operate regular flights at GBIA from May 16
• GBIA to commence commercial flights on Buddha Purnima