April 18: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will be operating round the clock from May 29 following a decline in Covid-19 infection. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has made preparation to bring international airports into operation round the clock to manage the increasing flow of passengers.    
Similarly, Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and under construction Pokhara Regional International Airport will also operate round the clock, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported.    
According to RSS, CAAN Director General, Pradeep Adhikari, confirmed that the TIA would provide 24-hour service from May 29 coinciding with the Republic Day of Nepal.    
"CAAN has released a new plan following repeated directives from Tourism Minister Prem Bahadur Ale," said Director General Adhikari.    
Flow of passengers at international airport and domestic airports has increased after COVID pandemic.    
 "There is a need to improve infrastructures in all international and domestic airports as well as standardization of service. It is also necessary to give a message that the Nepalese sky is safe. So we have been involved in effective management of airports," RSS quoted Adhikari as saying.  Earlier in 2075 BS, the then Tourism Minister late Rabindra Adhikari had brought the TIA into operation for 21 hours from 18 hours.    
The Gautam Buddha International Airport is considered as an alternative airport to TIA.    
Adhikari mentioned that though the runway of Gautam Buddha International Airport would come into operation from April 21, the airport would start international flight from May 16 on the day of Buddha Jayanti festival.    
 In the meantime, CAAN has also decided to operate domestic airports till midnight. The CAAN has decided to bring Bhadrapur, Janakpur, Simara, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi airports into operation till midnight.