May 16: Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport has been officially inaugurated today (Monday). Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)'s narrow-body Airbus A-320 and Jazeera Airway’s aircraft from Kuwait landed at the airport today morning.

According to the airport office, the first flight of Nepal Airlines Corporation landed at 6:55 am, and the Jazeera Airway flight landed at 7:08 am. The NAC operated commercial flights from Kathmandu. Likewise, Jazeera's aircraft landed at GBIA from Doha via Kuwait.

This has opened the door for commercial flights from Nepal’s second international airport after Tribhuvan International Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) informed that commercial flight from Gautam Buddha International Airport will take place on a regular basis from June 12.

The operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport is believed to reduce the air traffic congestion at TIA and is also expected to promote religious tourism due to its proximity to Lumbini, a pilgrimage site of Buddhists from all over the world.