Buddha goes int’l on Aug 23
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KATHMANDU, AUG 06 - Buddha Air, a leading domestic airline, will be starting its maiden international operation -- Kathmandu to Paro (Bhutan) -- on Aug. 23. The airline will initially operate four flights a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday using an 18-seater Beech 1900D aircraft.
The carrier said it would increase the frequency to seven weekly flights subsequently. The air service agreement between Nepal and Bhutan allows both sides to have seven flights a week between Kathmandu and Paro. During the tourist season, the airline plans to operate daily flights and add charter flights if required. Buddha Air made a test flight from Kathmandu to Paro on May 25. It had originally planned to start its Bhutan operation from the third week of July. Currently, Druk Air, the national carrier of Bhutan, is the only airline operating on the Kathmandu-Paro sector.
After consolidating its domestic base, the airline has been working to spread its wings abroad. Buddha's Kathmandu-Paro flight is part of its expansion drive. Managing director Birendra Basnet said, "For Buddha Air, it's a big milestone. With this, Buddha's operation has entered the next level." Buddha Air is targeting visitors who want to travel to Bhutan via Nepal with the Kathmandu-Paro flight. Bhutan, known as a destination for high-end tourists, has targeted around 35,000 visitors this year. "If we can make Nepal a transit point for them, Nepali tourism will also benefit," said Basnet.
After Bhutan, the airline will also start its India operation shortly. According to Basnet, Buddha Air is in the process of getting a letter of designation from India's Ministry of External Affairs. "Once we get that, it will open the door for us to start our India operation," said Basnet.
The airline has plans to link Kathmandu with Patna, Lucknow and Kolkata. As per the new air service agreement (ASA) between Nepal and India, Nepali airlines are allowed to operate flights to 26 destinations in India.
Posted on: 2010-08-06 09:07
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