The calibration flight at Lumbini’s Gautam Buddha International Airport has completed its course. A Thai aircraft Aerothai was responsible to oversee the test flights at Nepal’s only second international airport in Bhairahawa of Lumbini Province.
With the test flights over, the airport is ready for commercial operations. The airport administration has announced that regular flights will begin on May 16, marking the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.
After the completion of the flights, the newly constructed airport is preparing to launch commercial flights. The airport administration has already announced that the regular commercial flights will begin on May 16, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.
The aircraft will now submit its report to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) which will be published by the department of Aeronautical Information Management. This report will help the authority decide whether the airport is ready to start flights or has to stay grounded for more work.
Once confirmed that the airport is eligible, it will then invite airline companies for commercial flights.
Related: Tribhuwan International Airport to Issue Visas with QR Codes
More Calibration Duties for Aerothai’s Aircraft
The aircraft landed on February 17th and ran its scheduled calibration flight at Lumbini’s international airport. After this, the aircraft was supposed to fly back home. But Nepali authorities decided to conduct more test flights. As a result, the aircraft conducted more calibration flights at 5 other airports. This included another newly built Pokhara International Airport in Kaski.
The aircraft its extended test flights at airports in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Simara, and Biratnagar.
Gautam Buddha International Airport will be Nepal’s second international airport of Nepal after Tribhuwan Int’l Airport in Kathmandu. This will form a network with another Pokhara Int’l airport making it three helping Nepal to diversify its aviation flights for passengers with different target destinations and purposes.
How do you feel about the international airport at Lumbini finally preparing for commercial flights? You can share about its value for Nepal’s economic development as well as aviation convenience for passengers in the comments below.
