Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has begun preparations to make Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa one of its operating bases, with plans to begin regular international services from the airport under the upcoming winter flight schedule. The move is being viewed as an important step toward expanding international air connectivity beyond Kathmandu and making better use of Nepal’s second international airport. According to airport officials, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has already started test flights as part of the preparations, while the airline is working to train pilots and establish the operational requirements needed to station an aircraft at Bhairahawa.
Test Flights Underway Ahead of Winter Schedule
GBIA General Manager Shyam Kishor Shah said Nepal Airlines began test flights on Wednesday as part of its preparations to establish Bhairahawa as an operating base. The corporation is planning to station one narrow-body aircraft at the airport and operate regular flights from there once the necessary preparations are completed. The planned operation is expected to begin with the winter flight schedule in November 2026, marking a potentially significant change in the way Nepal’s national flag carrier operates its international services.
The preparations currently include base training flights for first officers (pilots) using an Airbus A320 aircraft. According to Shah, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) previously operated only a limited number of flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to Bhairahawa, meaning only a small number of pilots had experience operating from the airport. The current training program is therefore intended to increase the number of qualified pilots familiar with operations at the airport and prepare the airline for more consistent services.
Pilot Training to Strengthen Regular Operations in Nepal Airlines Corporation
The training programme launched by Nepal Airlines is scheduled to run from Shrawan 27 to Bhadra 3, corresponding approximately to August 12 – 19, 2026. The programme is an important part of the airline’s preparations because establishing an operating base requires pilots and other operational personnel to be familiar with the airport, local flying conditions and the procedures required for regular takeoffs and landings.
The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is not only preparing to conduct scheduled flights from Bhairahawa but is also working to strengthen the airport’s role as an alternative operational location. Officials said the preparations would help facilitate regular flights as well as the landing of diverted aircraft at Bhairahawa. This could provide greater operational flexibility for airlines, particularly when flight operations at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport are affected by weather, congestion or other circumstances.
International Traffic at Bhairahawa Remains Limited
Despite being developed as Nepal’s second international airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport has so far handled a relatively limited volume of international traffic. Airport spokesperson Kumar Sujkhuka said that between Poush 16, 2080 and Poush 16, 2081, corresponding approximately to December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024, the airport recorded 297 international flights arriving and departing. Those flights carried a total of 9,089 international passengers.
The figures show both the airport’s existing international potential and the challenges it has faced in attracting and sustaining regular international operations. Establishing Nepal Airlines’ own operating base could therefore provide a more stable foundation for international connectivity from the airport, particularly if the carrier is able to maintain regular services and gradually increase flight frequency.
More Than 6,800 International Passengers Served in Later Period
Airport statistics also show continued international activity during the following period. From Shrawan 1, 2082 to Falgun 27, 2082, the airport recorded 170 international flight movements, with a total of 6,874 international passengers using its services. Although the number of flights was lower than in the earlier reporting period, the figures demonstrate that Bhairahawa already has an established international passenger base that could potentially grow with more consistent airline operations.
The proposed Nepal Airlines base could help address one of the major challenges facing the airport: maintaining regular and reliable international connectivity. A national flag carrier operating from Bhairahawa could also encourage additional airlines to consider the airport for scheduled services, particularly if passenger demand and operational reliability improve.
A Boost for Lumbini and Western Nepal Tourism
The development has particular importance for tourism because Gautam Buddha International Airport is located close to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a major international pilgrimage and cultural tourism destination. The airport’s official portal describes GBIA as an international airport handling scheduled international flights. A stronger international operation from Bhairahawa could make it easier for international visitors to travel directly toward Lumbini and other tourism destinations in western and southern Nepal, reducing the need for visitors to first arrive through Kathmandu and then make a separate domestic journey. Improved connectivity could benefit hotels, tour operators, transport companies, guides, restaurants and other tourism businesses in the wider Lumbini region.
The airport is also strategically important because of its proximity to the Lumbini tourism circuit and its potential to serve visitors travelling to religious and cultural destinations in Nepal and neighboring India. Greater international connectivity could therefore contribute not only to passenger movement but also to the wider development of tourism infrastructure and businesses around Bhairahawa and Lumbini.
Reducing Pressure on Kathmandu’s Main International Gateway
Another major significance of the plan is the possibility of creating a stronger alternative to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, which currently serves as Nepal’s principal international aviation gateway. A permanent operating base for Nepal Airlines in Bhairahawa could distribute some international air traffic outside the capital and provide passengers from western and southern Nepal with a more convenient departure point. For international travelers visiting Lumbini and surrounding destinations, direct access through Bhairahawa could shorten ground travel requirements and make Nepal’s tourism network more geographically balanced. The move could also support the government’s broader objective of increasing the utilization of Gautam Buddha International Airport, which was developed to expand Nepal’s international aviation capacity.
A Strategic Step for Nepal’s Aviation and Tourism Sector
The decision to prepare Bhairahawa as an operating base represents more than simply relocating an aircraft. It involves pilot training, operational preparation, aircraft deployment, and the development of regular flight schedules. If successfully implemented, the initiative could give Gautam Buddha International Airport a more consistent role in Nepal’s international aviation network. Nepal Airlines’ plan also comes at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen tourism connectivity and attract more international visitors. The airline’s official website identifies Gautam Buddha International Airport as one of its operational offices, confirming its established presence at Bhairahawa.
With test flights already underway and pilot training in progress, the next major step will be the implementation of regular services under the November 2026 winter schedule. If the planned operation proceeds successfully, Bhairahawa could gradually emerge as a stronger international aviation hub and an important gateway for Lumbini, western Nepal and the country’s wider tourism industry.
