Himalaya Airlines started daily Malaysia flight from GBIA

BHAIRAHAWA, Nov 03: Himalaya Airlines has started commercial flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport. Himalaya has become the second company to operate commercial flights at Gautam Buddha International Airport after Jazeera Airways.

The P-320 aircraft of Himalaya Airlines, which landed at Bhairahawa from Kuala Lumpur Airport in Malaysia on Thursday, flew to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. Himalaya brought most of the passengers to Malaysia from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa. 135 passengers were sent to Kuala Lumpur from Gautam Buddha International Airport.

According to Vijay Shrestha, Vice President of Himalaya Airlines, daily chartered flights have started now. He informed that if this test is successful, Himalaya will start scheduled flights. Though chartered, Himalaya will fly daily from Bhairahawa at the regular fare.

He informed that Himalaya is also studying the possibility of expanding flights in Burma as well. He said that there is a possibility of religious tourism from that country.

He said that the Himalayas will consider Gautam Buddha as its airport and operate it. The company also expects the same from other stakeholders. Himalaya said that the government should also support the flight from Gautam Buddha. Saying that the government should give leadership, he said that the Himalayas have already paid 14 billion rupees in revenue to the government's treasury.

Accordingly, he demanded that self-ground handling should be done in Kathmandu. He demanded that commercial ground handling should be provided here as well, saying that the aim is to base ships at Bhairahawa and fly from Bhairahawa. He says that in the past, he was not allowed to work at Tribhuvan International Airport even after getting permission.

Director General of Civil Aviation Authority Nepal, Pradip Adhikari, said that labor-related issues are the main reason for the non-operation of the airport. He said that many issues including insurance, medical, and hotels also caused problems. He said that the problem of labor is being solved.

He informed that airlines have made it compulsory by saying that there is a trend of airlines not giving up the space they get. He also said that it will be binding, saying that the rule that all airlines that have to fly four times a day in Nepal must come to Bhairahawa.

Saying that we cannot provide more flight opportunities in Kathmandu than at present, he said that the airlines have to choose between closing their business or Bhairahawa coming.

Officials said that tourism businessmen should also pay special attention to the promotion of the airport. He said that the next era is one of competition and everyone should be involved in it.

He said that even domestic airport airlines should give a 25 percent discount on the basis of tickets to passengers of international flights coming from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa. He said that he is discussing this with the airline company.

According to him, it has been decided that 10 passengers per flight should be allowed to carry baggage like in international flights.