Bharatpur Airport to Resume Fueling Services for Kathmandu and Pokhara Flights Next Week

Chitwan. Aircraft flying to Kathmandu and Pokhara from Bharatpur Airport will be able to refuel here starting next week. The Nepal Oil Corporation has moved forward with preparations to enable refueling here from this coming Falgun 6.

The spokesperson for the Corporation, Deputy Director Manoj Kumar Thakur, stated that work is underway after reaching an agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority.

He said, "Work is being done to start refilling from this Falgun 6. Two refuelers and one mobile dispenser have been arranged for the establishment of the depot station. Sustainable operation will take six months to one year."

While establishing tanks underground or above ground will take time, he mentioned that arranging for immediate refueling of aircraft will not take long. The Corporation estimates an expenditure of four to five crore rupees for storing and managing 30 kiloliters of fuel here.

Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, stated that the land agreement with the Authority has been finalized, and the Corporation will handle all remaining tasks. He added that aircraft operating flights in that region will benefit from this initiative.

Buddha Air currently operates seven daily flights from Bharatpur to Kathmandu and Pokhara. Bhakta Bahadur Basnet, Station Manager for Buddha Air Bharatpur, informed that two 47-seater and five 72-seater aircraft are operating flights from here. He noted that if refueling facilities are available here, aircraft arriving from Kathmandu could carry two additional passengers.

According to Basnet, Buddha Air's 72-seater aircraft currently carries 70 passengers when arriving from Kathmandu, and is forced to carry only 60 during the summer. When departing from here, it currently carries 55 passengers, and only 40 during the summer.

Similarly, the 47-seater aircraft currently carries 45 passengers when arriving from Kathmandu and 43 when departing. During the summer, it carries around 35 passengers arriving from Kathmandu and 33 when departing from here.