Tara Air has started operating regular flights to Ilam’s Phalgunanda Sukilumba Airport. Starting Wednesday, Tara Air will use a Twin Otter plane to operate two flights a week to the airport.
It would take 55 to 58 minutes to fly to Ilam from Kathmandu.
The Twin Otter plane can be used for the flight could carry 14 passengers while flying to Ilam and 17 passengers while returning to Kathmandu. Meanwhile, residents of the district, and especially those who had provided their land for the construction of the airport, are happy about the beginning of commercial flights.
To this effect, Ilam Municipality has taken some steps. The municipality is said to have reached an agreement with Tara Air to pay for the seats that go unoccupied for the next 12 weeks. It has allocated Rs. 1 million for that.
Locals said that the beginning of regular flights to Ilam will also improve the tourism business in the district.
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Chairman Mr. Achyut Sharma Guragain also added that they were prepared to send foreign tourists to Ilam.