KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has started preparations to establish Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa as an operating base for its aircraft.
In line with a directive from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the national flag carrier began flight training operations at the airport on Tuesday as part of the process of designating GBIA as an operating base.

According to NAC, first officers (pilots) are undergoing base training flights using Airbus A320 aircraft. The training program will run from August 12 to August 19.
Gautam Buddha International Airport Civil Aviation Office spokesperson Engineer Kumar Sujakh issued a press statement informing all concerned stakeholders about the ongoing training flights.
Nepal Airlines has already designated the Bhairahawa-based airport as an alternative airport for its operations. Acting General Manager Shyam Kishor Sah said that, effective from November 19, 2025, any Nepal Airlines aircraft requiring diversion for any reason will use Gautam Buddha International Airport as an alternate airport.

The Bhairahawa airport originally began operations from a grass airfield in 1964 and has functioned from its current location as a domestic airport since 1966.
The foundation stone for the international airport was laid on January 15, 2015, by then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. Built at an estimated cost of around Rs 35 billion, the airport was officially inaugurated on May 16, 2022, by then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Spread over approximately 800 bighas of land, Gautam Buddha International Airport has a 3-kilometer runway. The airport is classified as a Category 4E facility and is equipped with Category 9 firefighting services.

The airport is capable of handling takeoffs and landings comparable to Tribhuvan International Airport and can accommodate up to five international aircraft at a time-four narrow-body aircraft and one wide-body aircraft.