SURKHET: The Buddha Airlines has successfully conducted its Surkhet-Kathmandu test flight today.

“A 47-seat aircraft with call sign 80 R 42 conducted direct test flight from Surkhet to Kathmandu, said Binod Kumar Panta, Chief of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal in Surkhet.

"Although the aircraft conducted successful test flight, the report is yet to be received," he added.

Similarly, Senior Officer Bidhya Shah stated that the aircraft made the flight at 11:00 am from Surkhet.

The regular flights would begin from April 14, he said.

Earlier, the locals of Karnali Province had demanded operation of Surkhet-Kathmandu flight with the provincial government. Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi had drawn the attention of the federal government, and held meetings with private airline companies for the same.