Private owned company ‘Buddha Air’ is set to start direct flights from Kathmandu to Indian city Kolkata from tomorrow.
The airlines will be operating 3 weekly flights to Kolkata starting from tomorrow. The airline will operate first flight at morning 8 AM.
For the flight, Buddha Air will use its 72-seater ATR 72-500 series aircraft and one can reach the destination within one and half hours.
The airline had previously stated to commence flight from September 1st last year however; the airline had to postpone the flight due to Lok Sabha Election of India and had notified to start flight from 7 May.
The airline will conduct flights on the pre-scheduled routine which is 3 weekly Kolkata flight on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The airline will be operating flights initially from their current aircraft ATR-72.
The carrier has allocated NRs 22,000 per person for two-way air ticket and has allocated NRs. 10,440 from Kathmandu-Kolkata flights whereas NRs. 11,560 for Kolkata-Kathmandu flights.
Buddha air will also be selling packages of 2 nights 3 days, 4 nights 5 days and 5 nights 6 days packages at different rates.
In 2 nights 3 days, visit to Dakshineswar kali temple of Kolkata, Belur Math, market area are included. This package cost NRs. 28000 which includes foods, two-way tickets and living arrangements.
Similarly, NRs. 58000 has been allocated for 4 nights of 5 nights where visit to High Court building, Old Church, Howrah bridge, Vidhyasagar Setu, National Museum, Victoria Memorial Kalagha Temple are arranged .
The carrier has also made an arrangement in a cheap rate by targeting Nepalese who travel to Kolkata in a group or for religious visit.
Buddha Air has taken this step to upgrade itself into Jet era and after the successful flight to Kolkata, the airlines will aim to fly to third country with a Jet engine aircraft. Buddha Air also has already got permission to fly to international destination which takes around 2 and half hours with the ‘turboprop’ planes from Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The airline stated that they have been reviewing Boeing as well as Airbus and will be choosing one accordingly.
The airline currently owns 12 aircraft that includes 2 Beechcraft B1900D, 3 ATR 42-320 and 7 ATR 72-500 series aircraft. The airline will be adding 2 more ATR 72 series aircraft to extend their flight operation to different cities of India.
The airline has also proposed plan to build hanger at Pokhara Regional International Airport so as to commence international flight from the airport after the airport comes into operation.
The airline is providing services to Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Simara, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Bhadrapur, Pokhara, Dhangadi, Birendranagar and Tumlingtar from TIA along with Mountain Flights as well as flights to Indian city Varanasi.
Established on 23 April 1996, with a fleet of a Beech-craft 1900D manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft (now Hawker Beech-craft), Buddha Air is the largest domestic airline operator of Nepal.
