Flights to and from Bhairahawa International Airport Halted for Lack of ILS

October to March is the best season to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

This year, tourism entrepreneurs here were also excited to welcome tourists but their excitement did not last long as flights are unlikely to take place in this peak season of the lack of an Instrument Landing System in the Gautam Buddha International Airport.

The flights are affected in the airport citing unfavourable weather conditions. International flights here have been affected due to poor visibility following thick fog in the winter season.   

General Manager of the Gautam Buddha International Airport Govinda Prasad Dahal confirmed that Himalayan Airlines has suspended its flights since December 20 and Jazeera Airways since December 21. 

Jazeera has informed us that its flights would be suspended until the December end but the flights could be suspended for more days due to unfavourable weather conditions.

ILS has been installed at the airport but it is not brought into use. The ILS is a radio navigation system which helps aircraft in landing during nighttime and in unfavourable weather conditions.

Officials say that Indian sky should also be used while implementing the ILS. “For this, the Indian government’s approval is required,” Dahal said.

Generally, visibility of 1,500 metres is required for the landing of a plane but the plane could be landed even in the visibility of 800 metres if ILS was brought into use, Dahal shared.

Constructed with an investment of Rs 35 billion, the airport was inaugurated on May 16, 2022.

So far, the airport made 154 international flights and received 13,593 passengers and bade farewell to 18,025 passengers.