Kathmandu-Tikapur regular flight resumes

KAILALI, Dec 15:Kailali's Tikapur Airport, which had been shuttered for 27 years, has resumed regular operations. Tara Air's Twin Otter aircraft YT 1701, carrying six staff members, three crew members, and 12 passengers, landed at Tikapur Airport at 1:44 pm on Sunday, resuming regular flights.

The airport, which had been operating since October 11, 1984, has been closed since 1997 due to the start of armed war, according to Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Arun Kumar Chaudhary, who arrived in Tikapur on the first flight, was greeted by Tikapur Municipality Mayor Ramlal Dagoura, Tikapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Krishna Bajgain, and others.

On that occasion, Minister of State Chaudhary stated that direct flights between Kathmandu and Tikapur would begin in the coming days following the upgrade of Tikapur Airport.

"I also promised to operate Tikapur Airport during the last election. Tikapur Airport began regular operations today. "My efforts will continue to ensure its continuity," he stated.

Tikapur Mayor Dagoura Tharu reported that plans had been made to fly flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj via Yeti Airlines and from Nepalgunj to Tikapur Airport via a 'connecting flight' via Tara Air, as part of a special  initiative by the Tikapur municipality.

The airport will operate Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Tikapur and Tikapur-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu flights every Sunday and Thursday.  Mayor Dagoura Tharu said that Tikapur Municipality and Tara Air have reached an agreement to secure a minimum of 15 seats on each trip.

"Yeti Airlines will fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, from where Tara Air will fly to Tikapur via a connecting flight. The one-way ticket from Kathmandu to Tikapur has been established at 9,000 rupees," he stated.

Pathil Holidays has been appointed as the authorized sales agent for selling air tickets to Tikapur. Tickets can be purchased at their outlets in Siddhartha Hotel in Tikapur and Tinkune in Kathmandu, as well as through travel agencies.

Residents in adjacent areas including as Kailali, Surkhet, and Bardiya, who formerly relied on flights from Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj, are expected to gain from the renewed connectivity.  While the runway is gravel-based, plans are in place to upgrade it once regular flights begin.