KATHMANDU: A 72-seat Buddha Air aircraft successfully landed at Bharatpur Airport on Thursday morning, completing a test flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur on the airport’s 1,200-meter-long runway.

Previously, Shree Airlines had been operating regular flights after a successful test flight with an 80-seat aircraft. However, Shree Airlines is currently not operating regular flights from Bharatpur.

Bhakta Bahadur Basnet, Buddha Air’s station manager in Bharatpur, confirmed the successful test flight. He explained that after technical studies by Buddha Air’s technicians, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and other experts, permission will be granted for regular flights.

Due to nearby houses and trees around the airport, it was previously difficult for larger aircraft to take off and land, so flights with planes having a capacity of 72 seats were not operated. The airport runway is currently being prepared for expansion.

At present, Buddha Air operates regular flights with a 42-seat aircraft from Bharatpur. With the introduction of the 72-seat plane, fares are expected to decrease. Basnet said the plane can carry around 60 to 62 passengers from Kathmandu to Bharatpur and about 50 to 60 passengers on the return flight.

Currently, Buddha Air’s ATR-42 aircraft operates routes between Kathmandu and Pokhara. There are seven daily flights between Kathmandu and Bharatpur, and one daily flight between Bharatpur and Pokhara.

Although the plane has a capacity of 47 seats, full capacity operation has been limited due to the runway length and high temperatures. Buddha Air has been operating regular Kathmandu-Bharatpur flights for the past 20 years.