A widebody A-330 aircraft is flying to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, the second international airport of the country, today.
The widebody aircraft of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is about to conduct 'Operational Performance Test Flight' at the Gautam Buddha International Airport.
For this purpose, the corporation's widebody aircraft will take off from the Tribhuvan International Airport at 3 pm and land at the Gautam Buddha International Airport after a 45-minute flight.
This is the first time in the history of Nepal's aviation that a large aircraft has started flying to the second international airport.
After 74 years of operation of the Tribhuvan International Airport, another new international airport has come into operation.
Engineer Pradip Adhikari, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said that the formal opening of the second airport in Nepal was an important achievement for the country.
He said, "For the first time, a widebody ship is landing on Nepalese land other than Kathmandu. This has been a milestone in the 74-year history of Nepal's airspace. Until now, large airships were only landing in Kathmandu."
According to the authority, domestic airports in the Terai region are operating for 18 hours daily from today.
International commercial flights will be operated at Gautam Buddha International Airport for 18 hours daily from today and 24 hours from May 2. Director General Adhikari said that it was the first project of national pride to be completed and fully implemented.
Another international airport has come into operation in Nepal and the 'Operational Performance Test Flight' is being conducted by a widebody aircraft to spread the message that airlines from all over the world are welcome.
Jazira Air is preparing for flights to and from the airport. Other airlines have also shown interest in flying from the airport.
Narrowbody and widebody ships will take off and land at the Gautam Buddha International Airport. Mechanical test flight (calibration flight) has been completed at this airport.
According to the authority, the Gautam Buddha International Airport will be operated at the capacity of the Tribhuvan International Airport. The Gautam Buddha International Airport is a project that has made rapid progress after reaching a critical stage.
The authority understands that it is a model project to achieve rapid progress among the projects of national pride.
Work on the airport, which began in early 2015 and was to be completed by December 2017, was hampered by negligence on the part of the contractor.
It was then planned to be completed by March 2020, but the airport came into commercial operation after about five years due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The airport was built by the Chinese construction company, Northwest Civil Aviation Construction Group.
According to the authority, about Rs 11 billion has been spent in the first phase of the project, which was constructed with a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank.
Now the construction process of the second phase terminal building will be started soon.
It is believed that the pressure on the current Tribhuvan International Airport will be reduced when this airport comes into commercial operation.
The authority is preparing to operate the international airport 24 hours a day to manage the increasing air pressure.
According to the authority, the Gautam Buddha International Airport and the Pokhara Regional International Airport, under construction, will be open 24 hours a day.
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