The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Rupandehi district of the Lumbini Province has formally come into operation from today. This is the second international airport in the country after the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu.

Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the regulatory body, Engineer Pradip Adhikari recently informed that the second international airport has formally come into operation. He called it a milestone in the 74 years of civil aviation history of the country. The international flights will start operating from May 16, on the day of Buddha Jayanti or the birth anniversary of the Buddha.