Kathmandu, July 21
In the first two months of its operation, Nepal’s second international airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport, 6,320 people travelled from and to this station internationally.
Currently, Jazeera Airways is conducting three flights between Bhairahawa and Doha via Kuwait City every week. Wizz Airlines is preparing to start Bhairahawa flights from Abu Dhabi. “They will probably begin by September end,” informs the airport chief Govinda Dahal.
However, the airport did not record any foreign trade activity, both import and export, informs the customs office chief Gyanendra Raj Dhakal.
“During the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we received some goods,” he says, “But, they were customs-free goods. Further, they returned the goods to India.”
Because most passengers using the Gautam Buddha International Airport are labour migrants, trade activities could not happen in these months, according to officials.
In the period, 2,923 international passengers landed at the airport whereas 3,397 flew off, according to the airport officials.
The airport began its operation in May whereas regular flights began in June only.
