Buddha Air has issued new flight directives in response to the upcoming infrastructure upgrades at Tribhuvan International Airport, which are set to reduce flight times. The airport will undergo renovations starting from Friday, Kartik 23, and continuing for approximately five months. Due to these upgrades, a “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) will be implemented from 10 PM to 8 AM, affecting flight schedules during this period.
Buddha Air is confident that the airport improvements will facilitate smoother flight operations and traffic management once completed. However, the airline noted that the upcoming monsoon season could cause potential disruptions to the upgrades, making the current flight schedule appropriate for the time being.
According to Buddha Air spokesperson, Dipendra Kumar Karn, the shortened flight times are expected to make flight management easier, especially during the winter months. Karn explained that winter weather typically causes fog and reduced visibility at airports, which can impact regular operations. The airport expansion is expected to help alleviate these challenges, ensuring smoother flight operations for airlines.
The airline’s new directives also specify that Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flights must complete night-time operations by 10 PM, while Visual Flight Rules (VFR) destinations require daylight flights, dependent on visibility conditions. Flights that do not meet these conditions could be subject to cancellations.
The airline has issued a six-point directive to passengers, noting that despite the presence of enough aircraft, flights can still be delayed due to adverse weather and air traffic conditions. Passengers are encouraged to check in at the airport counters well in advance, as these counters will close 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
In the event of delays caused by bad weather or airport traffic, flights may be canceled. In such cases, passengers will be rescheduled to the next available flight based on seat availability. If a flight is canceled, a refund process will be initiated, with an expected processing time of three to four days. Buddha Air has also clarified that no alternative flight schedules will be available for same-day cancellations due to air traffic or time limitations.
For passengers on international connecting flights, Buddha Air recommends booking tickets with a wider time gap or for the previous day to avoid any disruptions. The airline assured that such measures would provide greater convenience for travelers during this transitional period.
Source: RSS
