A flight of Himalaya Airlines (File Photo)
Subas Thing from Makwanpur was going to Malaysia for a job for the first time. Thing was called to Kathmandu saying he had a flight at 12:10 am Thursday. He had booked a Himalayan Airlines ticket.
Thing, who was preparing to go to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), was called to the office by the manpower company.
The manpower company informed him that the flight will be from Bhairahawa instead of Kathmandu.
On Thursday, Himalaya had its first flight from Bhairahawa. Arrangements were made to take passengers ready to fly from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa. The manpower company transported Malaysia-bound passengers along with Subas to Bhairahawa by bus.
"Initially, there was no information about the flight from Bhairahwa," said Thing, who was waiting to board the airbus after taking the boarding pass, "it was the manpower company that took him to Bhairahwa."
Passengers of 15-20 companies reached Bhairahawa. The Manpower Company took four buses to Bhairahawa overnight.
"The flight should have been from Kathmandu. But it didn't happen," he said. "It was difficult to travel by night bus."
Although it was difficult for them to come from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa, they were happy to be the first passengers from Gautam Buddha Airport.
Even though Jazeera Air started Bhairahawa-Kuwait flights from May 16, the new company could not be added. Jazeera Air has carried 21,703 passengers till November 3.
Even though passengers are excited to fly from Bhairahawa, there still exist a lot of difficulties. Once you go for foreign employment, you have to come to Kathmandu.
Although the labor office is established in Bhairahawa, the manpower company, medical, and visa center are in Kathmandu.
Himalaya Airlines airplane has been added from November 3. Himalaya's narrow-body plane is regularly flying from Bhairahawa to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"We have started flying from Bhairahawa targeting religious tourists and passengers going for foreign employment," said Bijay Shrestha, Vice President of Himalaya Airlines, adding, "Now we are doing regular chartered flights.
The CAAN has cut some flights of Himalaya and Nepal Airlines flying from Kathmandu, making it difficult for passengers to go to Bhairahawa.
"There are some problems when operating a new airport. They should be resolved gradually," said Pradeep Adhikari, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), adding, "just because there are some problems does not mean that flights should not be started. They will be resolved soon."
In order to attract international airlines, the authority has given a complete discount for one year on the landing fee, visa fee, communication, and aviation service fee, security fee charged by the CAAN to the airlines flying international flights from Gautam Buddha Airport.
Similarly, Nepal Airlines has given a 50 percent discount on ground handling services for one year. Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 can take off and land at Bhairahawa Airport.
Challenges glare for passengers and planes
The air route for international flights is not direct. The aircraft has to reach Simra to come to Bhairahawa. This is why the company's operating expenses will increase.
Indian passengers have not been able to receive NOC from the Government of India for international flights from Bhairahawa.
General Manager of Gautam Buddha Airport Govinda Prasad Dahal said that hoteliers, travel and tourism, industry and commerce association, tourism board, and tourism ministry should promote Bhairahawa airport immediately for the smooth operation of the airport.
"The Office of the Labor and Employment has yet to complete its works related to individual labor approval, selection of orientation training providers, insurance, health institutions, manpower companies, visa centers, and labor approval from Bhairahawa," said Dahal.
Likewise, Gautam Buddha Airport has not been connected by domestic flights.
