Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal has unveiled an action plan to ensure the full operational capacity of two major national pride projects: Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) and Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA).
This initiative includes a series of concessions and attractive packages aimed at encouraging airlines to resume regular international flights, which have been lacking despite the completion of construction.
On August 12, the Cabinet approved a comprehensive action plan to enhance the civil aviation sector, specifically targeting the effective operation of GBIA and PRIA. As part of this plan, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has announced a significant discount on aviation fuel for international flights from these airports. Effective August 17, the price of aviation fuel will be reduced by US$100 per kiloliter.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies has also outlined a plan to offer concessions on air tickets, ground handling services, and air fuel through August 2026. This move aims to fully activate both international airports. Additionally, the Home Ministry is preparing to manage the operations of the Immigration Office and Visa Center to support these efforts.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has been actively involved in discussions to optimize the operation of GBIA and PRIA. On August 2, he led a high-level meeting to explore strategies for maximizing the capacity of these airports, taking into account the current flight volumes and passenger management at Tribhuvan International Airport. He emphasized the need for a conducive environment to facilitate regular international flights from both airports.
In a recent meeting with air service operators, Prime Minister Oli addressed ongoing issues in the aviation sector. He instructed operators to prioritize air safety and encouraged them to propose solutions for existing problems, including addressing the European Union’s ban on Nepalese airlines.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has granted Thai AirAsia permission to operate four weekly flights from Thailand to GBIA and three weekly flights from Kathmandu starting September 20. Similarly, Jazeera Airlines from Kuwait has applied to resume flights at GBIA from September 25, with a request for three weekly flights.
GBIA commenced operations on May 16, 2022, while PRIA was inaugurated six months later. Despite some international flights at GBIA, PRIA has yet to see regular international commercial flights, apart from chartered services.