Regular flights operation begins at Surkhet Airport

KATHMANDU, Dec 16: Regular flights have begun from today at Surkhet Airport, the provincial capital of Karnali Province, with ATR-72 aircraft taking off from the Airport's runway.     

The Buddha Air's ATR-72 aeroplane started flight in the Kathmandu-Surkhet-Kathmandu route today on a regular basis, according to Jagannath Niraula, Spokesperson at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).     

Test flights were conducted at the Airport on November 16 this year. Following the success of that test flight, regular flights are going to be conducted from the Airport.     

The aircraft carrying altogether 70 passengers including high-ranking officers of the CAAN operated the first commercial flight in Surkhet, informed Dipendra Kumar Karna, Information Officer at Buddha Air.     

The regular and commercial flights to and from Surkhet would contribute to the tourism promotion of Karnali Province. The regular flights at the Airport would make the airfare on this route less costly, CAAN Spokesperson Niraula said.     

One-way airfare between Kathmandu and Surkhet has been fixed at up to Rs 14,000 per person. The airport capacity has been extended, according to the CAAN.     

Shree Airlines had conducted a test flight at the Surkhet Airport before the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the pandemic, flights at the airport were irregular. But, a plan is afoot to resume regular flights at the Airport soon, said Anil Manandhar, Manager of the Airlines.     

Yeti Airlines will also conduct a flight soon, said Sudarshan Bartaula, Spokesperson of the Airline.     

Buddha Air conducted a test flight at the Airport on 1st February 2013 and has been operating a flight through its ATR-72 aircraft for five years.