Buddha, Yeti and Shree Airlines preparing to add international destinations

Nepali Airlines have started surveying the feasibility of flight in Ayodhya after India has been preparing to operate international flights from the Ayodhya International Airport recently.

Since the beginning of January, flights have been operational at this airport, but currently only domestic flights are being operated. After five months of preparation for international flights, Buddha Air has initiated studies.

India plans to start international flights from the Ayodhya Airport within five months, and we are also studying,” said Rupesh Joshi, Sales and Marketing Director of the company. “We are studying including plans to operate regular commercial flights once the dates are finalized.”

Three years ago, Buddha Air had expressed interest in operating flights between Janakpur and Ayodhya.

Besides domestic flights, Buddha Air has been operating regular flights to Varanasi, India, internationally. The company owns three ATR-42 and fourteen ATR-72 aircraft.

According to sources, it will take one hour and seven minutes to fly from Janakpur to Ayodhya in an ATR.

Non-scheduled and chartered international flights have also been permitted, and Yeti Airlines is also interested in operating flights between Janakpur and Ayodhya. Sudarshan Bartaula, the company’s flight security chief, mentioned that preparations for Janakpur-Ayodhya flights are underway.

“We are prepared for both non-scheduled and chartered flights. We are also conducting office work for regular commercial flights between Janakpur and Ayodhya,” said Bartaula. “For this, international-level infrastructure is necessary in Janakpur.”

Currently, Yeti Airlines has been operating regular commercial flights to various destinations in the country through seven ATR-72 aircraft.

Shree Airlines, which owns four CRJ jet engines and five Q-400 turbo props, has also expressed interest in operating flights between Janakpur and Ayodhya. Company spokesperson Anil Manandhar said that plans are underway to operate international flights from Ayodhya and then operate services from Janakpur.

“Ayodhya currently only has domestic flights. Once international flights begin operating, we also have plans to operate regular commercial flights to this destination,” he said.

Shree Airlines is currently operating international flights from Kathmandu and Bhairahawa, in addition to domestic flights.

Five years ago, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh proposed flights to Ayodhya during his visit to Janakpur. Since then, Yogi had participated as the main guest in the Vivah Panchami festival and arrived in Janakpur on a private plane.

Janakpur is the birthplace of Goddess Sita and Ayodhya of Lord Ram. Therefore, there is a belief that religious tourism will increase with Janakpur-Ayodhya flights. Large numbers of Indians visit the Janaki Temple in Janakpur. Similarly, Nepalis also visit Ayodhya, which is why Nepali airlines are interested in operating flights between Janakpur and Ayodhya.

“Both Janakpur and Ayodhya are important destinations from a religious perspective, so we want to operate flights,” said Joshi of Buddha Air.

For Janakpur-Ayodhya flights, infrastructure such as arrival halls and offices is necessary at Janakpur Airport. Therefore, airlines alone cannot operate flights; the government must establish necessary infrastructure.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has stated that regional flights from Janakpur are possible, but permission must be obtained from India for the flights.