flying to kathmandu becomes cheaper as buddha air begins service
Monday morning around 10:30 am, the 18-seater Buddha Air bound to Bhutan took off from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu, with some Nepalese delegates as its first passengers. The jet landed elegantly at the Paro International Airport after an hour and five minutes despite indications of bad weather.
This was Buddha Air’s first commercial flight to Bhutan. The airline will be operational four times a week from now. Many Bhutanese pilgrims and business houses in the country anticipate that the coming of this new airline would force Druk Air to lower its fares.
“We are mainly targeting to cater to the local people of Bhutan, India and Nepal but at the same time we do not want to compete with the national airline, said Birendra B. Basnet, the managing director of Buddha Air.
The airline is family owned, 81% is owned by father Surendra B. Basnet and the rest is owned by Birendra B. Basnet.
“We will be going cautiously without incurring loss in the initial stage, said Birendra B. Basnet. Our focus would be to cater to the royal government of Bhutan’s plan to import 100,000 tourists by 2012 and we are hopeful that the air service agreement would give us more relaxation.”
Meanwhile, the government of Nepal is preparing a proposal for open sky that will extempt them from paying tariffs and royalities and also allow them to fly over atleast four SAARC countries.
“We will now be observing and monitoring the Bhutanese market while we are still in the process of building our confidence,” he said. Buddha Air said that if demand arises, it will look into flying daily providing 200 seats. “This will be complimentary for the tourism industry” he added.
While Buddha Air is committed to provide quality services for local Bhutanese who travel to Nepal, it has announced a special fare of Nu 2,820 equivalent to US $ 60 excluding taxes. But this fare would be available only if the tickets are booked in advance or when they have empty seats. Otherwise, the normal rates for them would be Nu 5,640 or US$ 120, Nu 3,290 lesser than what Druk Air charges for a two-way travel.
However, Mr. Birendra B. Basnet maintains: “We are not competing with Druk Air but will look forward to cater to the national carrier during the tourist season and function as a backup.”
“We will now be observing and monitoring the Bhutanese market while we are still in the process of building our confidence.” Birendra B.Basnet Buddha Air MD
Supporting this, the director general of the Department of Civil Aviation, Phala Dorji, said, “Both the airlines will have to maintain a healthy competition.”
When asked about concerns raised by some Bhutanese on flying Buddha Air, Phala Dorji said, “I am sure it would be as safe as Druk Air.”
Source: businessbhutan