On Thursday morning, Shree Airlines successfully commenced its test flights to Bharatpur Airport with its Dash-8-Q400 aircraft. The 80-seater aircraft’s inaugural landing was celebrated by key dignitaries, including Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, and Bharatpur Metropolitan City Mayor Renu Dahal.
Currently, only Buddha Air offers flights between Kathmandu and Bharatpur. With Buddha Air phasing out its ATR-42 aircraft, Shree Airlines has been granted permission to conduct test flights to potentially fill this gap.
Shree Airlines Chairman Sudhir Mittal announced that regular flights will commence once the test flights are completed and necessary approvals are obtained. “The approach to Bharatpur requires minimal altitude gain, and the flight was smooth with no issues,” he said. “We’ll start regular operations as soon as we get the green light.”
The test flight from Tribhuvan International Airport to Bharatpur Airport took 14 minutes, significantly shorter than Buddha Air’s 20-minute journey with the ATR-42.
Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Pradip Adhikari, confirmed that Shree Airlines would begin regular flights once all procedures are finalized. He also discussed ongoing upgrades at Bharatpur Airport, including a runway extension and a new terminal building, aimed at accommodating larger aircraft. These upgrades are expected to be completed by January 2025, enabling night operations and 24-hour service.
Once expanded, the airport will be able to handle larger aircraft, such as Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines’ ATR-72. The current 1,200-meter runway will be extended to 1,800 meters, utilizing land from the Nepalese Army’s horse breeding center.
Mayor Renu Dahal expressed her excitement over the airport’s expansion and the introduction of larger aircraft. “Over the past seven years, we have coordinated with multiple ministers to achieve this. The federal budget now includes funds for expanding Bharatpur Airport and relocating the horse breeding center,” she said. “This is a dream come true.”
Dahal also noted that the expanded airport capacity would increase flights, foster competition, and potentially lower fares. “With Bharatpur’s central location and economic potential, expanding the airport’s capacity is essential,” she added.
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang emphasized the goal of making Bharatpur accessible for all domestic flights through the airport’s expansion. Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane highlighted the benefits of increased competition and 24-hour operations for Chitwan’s development.
Shree Airlines’ Operations Director Captain Kundan Giri mentioned that in summer, the aircraft could carry over 70 passengers from Kathmandu and at least 55 on the return journey. He also indicated that fares would decrease once regular flights commence. Currently, Buddha Air’s fare for the Bharatpur-Kathmandu route exceeds NPR 4,600.
Shree Airlines currently operates seven Dash-8-Q400 aircraft, positioning itself to offer more competitive and efficient services on this route.
