KATHMANDU, Sept 20: The air services at Dhangadhi Airport that have remained suspended for nearly six months now due to the COVID-19 pandemic are all set to resume starting from Monday.
The private airline company Buddha Air is starting Kathmandu-Dhangadhi-Kathmandu flights, according to chief at Dhangadhi Airport Office, Tej Bahadur Budha Thapa.
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All the health safety measures will be adopted during the flights to avoid the risk of COVID-19, said Thapa. Another private airline, Summit Air, also operated chartered Nepalgunj-Bajura-Dhangadhi and Dhangadhi-Bajura-Nepalgunj flights recently. Summit Air is likely to resume its regular operation in the Sudur Paschim Province soon.
The airports in Doti, Baitadi and Bajhang districts have already witnessed blacktopping of the runways and are waiting for the test flights.
Meanwhile, the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has shut down its office in Dhangadhi. The reason is attributed to the lack of aircraft, informed NAC, Dhangadhi Chief Haridutta Panta. Earlier, until the nationwide lockdown was enforced on March 24, NAC’s aircraft of the MA60 model had been operating its services in this region.
The airport in Dhangadhi is one among the 10 domestic airports in the country fetching handsome income. “The airport generally earns Rs 2.5 million to 3 million a year. The income has shrunk due to the shutdown of the airport in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19.” The airport was upgraded recently.
