November 13: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate international flights from Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport. NAC Spokesperson Archana Khadka told the state-owned national news agency RSS that preparations are underway to operate international flights from Gautam Buddha Airport by the end of December.    
The national flag carrier of Nepal has formed committee under the coordination of Commerce Director of NAC, Janakraj Kalakheti, to conduct a study in this regard, RSS reported.    
"Preparations are underway to operate international flights by the end of this December. The NAC board will finalize the destinations after the study committee submits its report," RSS quoted Khadka as saying.  
Jazeera Airlines is the first airlines to operate flights from GBIA since the airport officially came into operation on May 16 this year.  The airline company been operating three flights a week between Kuwait and Gautam Buddha International Airport.

Similarly, Himalaya Airlines has been operating regular chartered flights to Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia from Gautam Buddha International Airport since November 3.    

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has urged in written to five international airliners as well as Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines to operate flights from the newly launched airport.

Currently, NAC has been conducting flights to 10 destinations of eight countries across the world. It has two wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft for international flights.