Bhairahawa: Thai AirAsia has recommenced its Bangkok-Bhairahawa-Bangkok flight operations from Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, starting this Sunday. The airline is scheduled to fly to Bhairahawa twice a week.
Binod Raut, the airport spokesperson, confirmed that the inaugural flight landed at 7 AM and departed for Bangkok at 7:40 AM. The flight carried only 7 crew members.
Raut further explained that the airline received permission to operate flights to Bhairahawa and Kathmandu just a few days ago, limiting the time for market promotion and ticket sales. The initial one-way fare from Bhairahawa to Bangkok is set at 12,000 rupees.
In addition to Thai AirAsia, Jazeera Air is also gearing up to commence its twice-weekly flights from November 9th.
Local tourism businesses have been urging for regular flight operations to sustain the momentum. They emphasize the need for a well-equipped airport with essential services like immigration and customs to facilitate seamless travel.
CP Shrestha, a prominent tourism businessman, expressed concerns about the potential for airlines to discontinue flights due to low passenger numbers, a recurring issue in the past. He highlighted the significant investment of around 80 billion rupees made by the private sector in the tourism industry, which is now at risk due to the lack of consistent international flights.
