Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has announced that its aircraft will now use Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA), Bhairahawa, as the official alternative airport in situations where landing at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) becomes impossible due to weather or operational issues. The decision, effective from Mangsir 03, was formally approved by the corporation on Mangsir 01. Until now, flights were being diverted to airports in India when they could not land in Kathmandu, leading to significant operational delays and increased expenses.
Cost and Time Savings Expected
NAC stated that diverting flights to GBIA, located within Nepal, will substantially reduce operational costs and save valuable time for both passengers and the airline. The move is expected to enhance efficiency in handling diversions, allowing quicker turnaround and minimizing passenger inconvenience.
Plans to Evaluate Pokhara International Airport as Additional Alternative
In addition to adopting GBIA as the primary alternative landing site, Nepal Airlines has also initiated the process to study the feasibility of Pokhara International Airport as an additional alternative airport in the future. The corporation believes that having multiple domestic diversion options will strengthen operational reliability and ensure smoother flight management during unforeseen circumstances. NAC emphasized that the new policy aims to improve overall service quality while reducing dependency on foreign airports for emergency or diversion landings.
