Time To Take Off

Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), Nepal's second international airport situated in Bhairahawa, is lying idle in terms of the flights it was meant to serve, for almost a year and a half. The airport is running without any international flights, except for a brief operation by Jazeera Air and Himalayan Airlines since its inauguration two years ago. The local businesses were hopeful that with the operation of the international airport in the country's south, the inflow of tourists especially religious tourists coming to visit Lumbini, would increase significantly. The high hopes were that it would significantly transform the economy of Lumbini Province and western sector of the country. Most importantly, India should give permission to use its airspace for flights destined for GBIA located 8 km away from Nepal-India border. As Nepal has been denied using the Indian sky, the international aircrafts have been forced to fly to Simara to start landing on the Gautam Buddha airport, which not only consumes time but also more fuel.

The private sector invested almost Rs. 80 billion in hotels and restaurant businesses. Hotels with international standards were constructed to cater to the needs of the tourists. They made such huge investments in hospitality businesses hoping that after the construction of the international airport, there will be a surge in the number of international tourists. But there are no international flights in GBIA which stresses the entrepreneurs involved in hospitality businesses as they are unable to pay their bank loans. This airport aims to develop Lumbini and its surrounding areas as religious and cultural tourism destinations and increase the inflow of tourists from around the world. However, the airport wears a deserted look, with hotels remaining all empty. 

There is some ray of hope lately as GBIA is expected to see some activity as Thai AirAsia is set to operate flights between Bangkok and Bhairahawa four days a week. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) granted permission to the airlines company, headquartered in Bangkok, for the flights to and from Bhairahawa on Thursday. Previously, AirAsia, an airline operated by the same investors as Thai AirAsia, had withdrawn from Nepal. AirAsia owed Rs. 270 million to the CAAN from 2012 to 2018. After Thai AirAsia decided to make a comeback, this debt was cleared through a bank guarantee last March

Shortly after assuming his office, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli asked for a clear plan from the relevant ministries for the operation of Gautam Buddha and Pokhara International airports at their full capacity. The local hoteliers have demanded at least one regular Bhairahawa-New Delhi flight, to accelerate economic activities. Before operating any flight, airlines mandatorily conduct studies whether there is enough demand, and based on demand projection, they add new routes in those areas where the demand is high and there is profitability. 

Giving subsidies to international airlines in GBIA in the initial days of operation can attract new airlines to operate on new routes, although this alone is not a long-term solution. Bhairahawa is a key hub for migrant workers going abroad and religious tourists, especially Buddhists, coming to Nepal. Although airlines companies blame the weather and lack of visibility from December to January as the reason for halting their flights to Lumbini, there is more than the weather that is responsible for GBIA not having international flights. Nepal government should talk to its Indian counterpart to secure air route from Indian side. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal should also come up with innovative ideas and policies to operate the two airports.