KATHMANDU: The national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has conducted an ‘operational performance test flight’ successfully at Gautam Buddha International Airport which serves as the country’s second international airport, today.

The NAC A330 wide-body aircraft took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) after a delay against the planned take-off at 3:00 pm and landed in Bhairahawa, Lumbini, at 5:55 pm Thursday.

The second international airport in the country is located in Bhairahawa, Lumbini.

The test flight by the wide-body airbus at the country’s another international airport built after 74 years of the establishment of the first one has marked a historic milestone in Nepal’s aviation sector.

The wide-body aircraft has landed elsewhere in the country, besides Kathmandu, for the first time in national aviation history.

According to CAAN, domestic airports in Terai areas as well as Gautam Buddha International Airport are coming into operation for 18 hours daily from today.

Similarly, international commercial flights would be operated at Gautam Buddha International Airport for 24 hours from upcoming May 16.

The ‘Operational Performance Test Flight’ was conducted to disseminate the message that another international airport has come into operation and any airline companies from across the world could make flights to Nepal.

The much-awaited second international airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport, has formally come into operation from May 22, 2021. However, preparations are underway to start international flights regularly at the airport from May 16.

Jazeera Airlines has already acquired permission to operate its flight at the airport and has been making necessary preparation in this regard.