Generally, the October-March period is considered the best season to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Tourism entrepreneurs of Bhairahawa were hoping that the start of commercial operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) would bring more tourists this year. But their excitement did not last long as flights are unlikely to take place in this peak season due to the lack of the Instrument Landing System (ILS), a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather conditions, at GBIA. Currently, international flights to and from Nepal’s second international airport have been affected due to poor visibility following thick winter fog. According to Govinda Prasad Dahal, General Manager of GBIA, Himalaya Airlines and Jazeera Airways have suspended their flights since December 20 and 21, respectively. The Kuwaiti airliner Jazeera which suspended flights until the end of December has informed the airport authority that the suspension will be extended for a few more days due to unfavorable weather conditions. ILS has been installed at the airport but the system has not been brought into use. Airport officials say that Indian skies should also be used while implementing ILS. “For this, approval from the Indian government is necessary,” said Dahal. According to him, generally, visibility of 1,500 meters is required for the landing of a plane but the aircraft could be landed even in a visibility of 800 meters if ILS is brought into use.

Constructed with an investment of Rs 35 billion, the airport was inaugurated on May 16, 2022. So far, there have been 154 international flights to and from the airport with 13,593 inbound passengers and 18,025 outbound passengers.