With frequent landslides along the Narayangadh–Muglin highway and other parts of the Prithvi Highway, air travel has become a preferred option for many passengers. The disruption of road transport has led to a noticeable increase in demand for flights, particularly ahead of the Dashain festival.
Buddha Air, which operates flights from Bharatpur Airport, has adjusted its operations to meet the rising demand. While normally seven daily flights operate, the airline has increased flights to ten per day to accommodate the higher number of passengers.
Passenger Numbers on the Rise
According to Bharatpur Station Manager Bhakta Bahadur Basnet, daily passenger numbers have risen from 300–350 under normal circumstances to around 460 currently. “Passenger traffic usually increases during festivals, but this year the landslides along the highway have further amplified demand for air travel,” Basnet explained. The increase is observed in both directions, passengers traveling from Kathmandu to Bharatpur and vice versa. Previously, most passengers increased only on flights arriving from Kathmandu, but now the surge is evident in both outbound and inbound flights.
Flight Operations Adjusted
Due to safety concerns along landslide-prone areas such as Tuin Khola on the Narayangadh–Muglin road and parts of Dhading along the Prithvi Highway, Buddha Air has modified its flight schedule. Currently, flights operate from 8:00 AM to 3:35 PM, with one daily flight between Bharatpur and Pokhara and nine flights between Bharatpur and Kathmandu.
Despite adding extra flights, Basnet mentioned that passengers still face difficulties booking tickets due to air traffic control limitations. Additional flights cannot be added because of congestion in the airspace.
Limitations and Challenges
The airport does not operate night flights, which imposes a time constraint for travelers and limits the number of flights that can be scheduled. “Although we have increased the number of flights, we are still unable to meet full passenger demand because of runway and air traffic limitations,” Basnet added.
Currently, Buddha Air is the only airline operating out of Bharatpur Airport. The airport sees travelers not only from Chitwan but also from Makwanpur and Nawalparasi districts, reflecting the broader regional reliance on air transport.
Airport Authorities Confirm Trend
Airport Chief Deepak Bik confirmed the rising trend of air travel at Bharatpur Airport. He noted that the combination of landslides and the festive season has caused a surge in passengers, highlighting the airport’s crucial role in ensuring safe and timely travel.
With road travel temporarily disrupted, air travel is providing a reliable and faster alternative for both domestic and festival-bound travelers, underscoring the importance of maintaining operational efficiency during peak travel periods.
As landslides continue to affect the Narayangadh–Muglin and Prithvi highways, air travel remains a vital mode of transportation for thousands of passengers. Airlines like Buddha Air are adjusting flight schedules to meet demand, although limitations on night flights and air traffic control capacity pose ongoing challenges. Travelers from Chitwan, Makwanpur, and Nawalparasi continue to rely on flights for safe and timely travel, especially with Dashain approaching.
