March 15: Five airlines companies have shown interest to operate regular flights to and from the Gautam Buddha International Airport. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is preparing to operate international flights at the airport  from May 16. The authorities took such decision following the instruction from  Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prem Bahadur Ale to make arrangement for the operation of international flights at the airport as soon as possible.    

According to the CAAN, Jazeera Airways of Kuwait, Sri Lankan Airlines of Sri Lanka, Nepal Airlines Corporation, Qatar Airways and Thai Smile Airlines Company of Thailand have shown interest for commercial flights.    

Engineer Pradeep Kumar Adhikari, Director General of CAAN, said, "Some of the airline companies have shown interest to operate the service at Gautam Buddha International Airport. We have been making preparation to grant permission to the airlines after studying their proposals."    

The CAAN had issued an 'Aeronautical Publication Information' few days ago for the operation of commercial flight.    

Similarly, Chief of Gautam Buddha International Airport, Govinda Prasad Dahal, said that problems have surfaced in some activities due to lack of human resources. Out of 151 quotas, there are only 36 staff at the airport.    

The government has been making preparation to bring the Gautam Buddha International Airport into operation from May 16 coinciding with the Buddha Jayanti festival. -- RSS