Flights to resume at Dhangadhi Airport after six months

DHANGADHI: Air services at Dhangadhi Airport suspended for nearly six months due to coronavirus pandemic is resuming from Monday.

The private airline Buddha Air is starting Kathmandu-Dhangadhi-Kathmandu flights, according to Chief at Dhangadhi Airport Office, Tej Bahadur Budhathapa.

He said that all health safety measures would be adopted during the flights to prevent the risk of COVID-19.

Likewise, private airline Summit Air has also operated chartered Nepalgunj-Bajura-Dhangadhi and Dhangadhi-Bajura-Nepalgunj flight recently.

The Summit Air is likely to resume its regular operation in the Sudurpaschim State’s district soon.

The airports in Baitadi, Doti, 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 due to the lack of aircraft, according to NAC Dhangadhi Chief Haridutta Panta.

Earlier, NAC’s aircraft of MA60 model had operated in this region until the nationwide lockdown on March 24.

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 in a year. The income has been shrunk due to the shutdown of the airport in the wake of outbreak of COVID-19.”

The airport has recently undergone upgrading.