Flight operation at Rajbiraj Airport located at Saptari is at vulnerable state due to nearby Brick Kilns. The high brick kilns near to the airport has made it hard for flight take off and landing from the airport.
Around 4 kilns at eastern part of the airport around just 700 meters are in operation which has brought problem in flight operation. The chimneys are as tall as 90 feet and to operate the airport safely, the chimneys has to be lowered to 40-45 feet stated the Rajbiraj Civil Aviation Authority.
Provincial Government, Village development committee and Civil Aviation Authority has been notified about the problem yet no action has been taken.
Late Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), Mr. Rabindra Adhikari on May 24 2018 inaugurated the resumption of Rajbiraj airport after closure of around one and a half decades in between the period of its establishment in 2016 B.S.
The passengers have been facing problems due to the Brick kilns as well as reduction of the flights by only operator to airport Shree airlines.
Around the end of 2018 Shree Airlines decreased the flight frequency to the airport after its aircraft had to undergo maintenance. The airline started operation with 5 flights a week and but the end of 2018, the airline reduced the flight to 3 weekly flights.
The reduction of flights and various infrastructural problems has caused problem for the people travelling to and from the airport.
The airport was established in 2016 and it resumed operation some 10 years ago by Tara air but the flight couldn’t continue for more than a month.
Rajbiraj Airport was repaired and upgraded at the cost of NRs. 303 million. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the then transport minister Ganeshman Singh had laid the foundation stone of the airport 59 years ago.
