Buddha Air resumes direct flights from Kathmandu to Kolkata from September 2 After 11-month hiatus

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s leading private airline, Buddha Air, is all set to resume direct flights between Kathmandu and Kolkata, India, from September 2, ending an 11-month suspension that had forced travelers to route through Delhi. The move is expected to significantly boost Nepal–India travel and tourism, particularly between eastern India and Nepal.

The carrier will operate four weekly flights — on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays — using its 70-seater ATR 72-500 aircraft, part of its 18-strong ATR fleet. The first flight is scheduled to land in Kolkata on September 1, with regular commercial operations commencing a day later.

This strategic resumption reconnects two of South Asia’s most spiritually and culturally significant cities — Kathmandu and Kolkata — that serve as gateways to Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage routes including Lumbini, Varanasi, Janakpur, Pashupatinath, and Sarnath. The revival of the direct flight is expected to energize religious tourism, boost cross-border family visits, and reignite casino tourism, which remains popular among Indian visitors to Nepal.

Previously, Buddha Air operated on the Kathmandu-Kolkata sector until late 2019, when services were discontinued due to low demand and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector also saw Air India withdrawing from Kathmandu in October 2023, leaving a void in direct air connectivity. Air India Express was expected to step in earlier this year but has delayed its plans indefinitely.

“We are working closely with Indian authorities to ensure smooth operations to Kolkata,” said Dipendra Kumar Karna, Communications Manager at Buddha Air. The airline, which began operations in October 1997, is already successfully running flights to Varanasi, another high-demand religious destination in India.

Industry experts have welcomed the move. Anil Punjabi, national committee member of the Travel Agents Federation of India, said, “This will revive religious and heritage tourism to Nepal from East India. For many with family links and spiritual interests in both countries, this connection is crucial.” He added that travelers only need a government-issued ID like a Voter ID card to travel to Nepal. However, he cautioned that Indian ₹500 notes are still not accepted in Nepal, posing a minor inconvenience.

Manav Soni, from the Travel Agents Association of India, emphasized the need for schedule consistency, saying, “The market demand is strong, but Buddha Air must ensure reliable operations to retain passenger confidence.”

As Nepal targets higher international tourist arrivals, especially from India — its largest source market — this resumption aligns with Nepal’s tourism revival strategy and supports broader efforts to enhance air connectivity across South Asia. It also reflects renewed focus on religious, adventure, and cross-border tourism, a segment that holds high potential for India–Nepal bilateral economic and cultural ties.

The Kathmandu-Kolkata flight restart is a major milestone in Nepal’s aviation and tourism sector, especially as the country positions itself as a gateway for Indian pilgrims to Lumbini — the birthplace of Lord Buddha — and a serene destination for mountain, spiritual, and leisure travel.