Myanmar Airlines eager to operate flights at GBIA

By Our Correspondent

Bhairahawa, Aug 31 : The government-run airline company of Myanmar has shown its interest to operate flights to Gautam Budhha International Airport (GBIA) as soon as possible.

Govinda Prasad Dahal, managing director of GBIA, however, informed that the Myanmar company had not yet decided as to when and at what time it would begin its service to the airport.

The local businessmen are excited that the number of tourists visiting Lumbini will increase if Myanmar’s airlines make an international flight to and from the GBIA.

At a time when more foreign airlines have shown their interest to add their flights to the GBIA, Nepal’s national flag carrier has not shown any interest to operate its flights from the newly built GBIA. 

There are only two Nepalese airlines operating international flights. They are Nepal Airlines and Himalayan Airlines. Both airlines have been taking off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). But none of it has shown interest in operating the flights even though international airlines have. More than five international flights should be operated to bear the airport operation cost. Similarly, Indian airlines have also not shown interest even though flights to India are being operated from GBIA.

Government-owned Nepal Airlines conducted a test flight from TIA to GBIA on April 28 through a widebody aircraft. But the airline has informed that Nepal Airlines has no plan to operate regular flights to GBIA.

Managing Director Dahal informed that Jazeera Airlines has been operating three flights with 120-150 passengers per flight in a week and preparing to operate on a daily basis.  

Likewise, Biz Air is also preparing to operate night flights at Bhairahawa International Airport. From October, it will operate flights from Abu Dhabi, UAE to GBIA. The airline has taken approval for operating three flights per week. 

According to Dahal, Fly Dubai and Air Arabia have not applied for the flights even though they have planned to fly regularly at GBIA. 

Eight Nepali planes are operating international flights from Nepal. But the airline companies say that they have not made plans for flights from GBIA.

At GBIA, it is expected that the main passengers will be Buddhists from different countries, tourists, citizens from the Indian border area, and Nepalis who have gone for foreign employment. India has not provided air routes from this airport till now.