Biratnagar airport hosts 42 rescue flights during lockdown

Nepal imposed nationwide lockdown starting from March 24 and banned all domestic aviation movements in Nepal. International flights were banned since March 20. No regular flights are allowed until August 31.

However, Biratnagar Airport, a provincial airport of State-1, has hosted 52 rescue chopper flights.
Based on the data from March 25 to August 8, Biratnagar Airport has seen 52 arrivals and 52 departure.

Nepal Army has made the majority of these rescue flights with 25 arrivals and departure.

Likewise, Air Dynasty, Kailash Heli, Simrik Air, Shree Air each have made 3 arrival and 3 departure flights. Yeti has made 2 arrival and 2 departure flights. Likewise, Sita Air, Mountain Heli, and Prabhu Air have each has made 1/1 arrival and departure flights.

During these emergency flights, 54 passengers departed from the airport, and 22 made arrival. According to Yuwaraj Bhandari, the Information Officer at the Biratnagar Airport, all rescue chopper flights are made with full health security.

Located at 370 kilometers away from Kathmandu, Biratnagar Airport commenced its operation since 6 July 1958. The airport has a 1500-meter-long and 30-meter-wide two-way approach and landing runway. It covers an area of 150 Bigha of land. It is the first certified domestic Regional Hub aerodrome in Nepal.