BHAIRAHAWA, APRIL 28

The A-330 widebody of the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation today successfully conducted its first 'operational performance test flight' to Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa, the second international airport of the Nepal.

The flight that was scheduled to take off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at 3:00pm was delayed by around two hours and landed at the GBIA following a 45-minute flight.

The flight, with seat capacity of 274, included Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Ale, the civil aviation officials, and mem-bers of the press.

According to CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari, the test flight by a widebody aircraft at the second international airport of the country 74 years after the establishment of the first international airport , the TIA, 'is a historic and proud moment for all Nepalis'.

The second international airport of Nepal formally came into operation on April 21 with domestic flights taking off from the new airport. International commercial flights are to be operated at GBIA from May 16.

DG Adhikari stated that once the GBIA commences full-fledged operation, it will facilitate in easing the congestion at the TIA.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 29, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.