By Kokila Dhakal
Ilam, Feb. 24: 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.
Tara Air’s Prabhakar Ghimire informed that it would take 55 to 58 minutes to fly to Ilam from Kathmandu.

Officials told The Rising Nepal that the Twin Otter plane to 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.

“Finally, our dream of seeing planes landing at the airport has come true. I cannot express my happiness. We might only live to use the airport for a short time but it will be very helpful for future generations,” said Padam Prasad Gautam, a local who had given more than nine Ropanis of land for the airport and moved his house away.

Another local Dambar Bahadur Bhandari, who had provided six Ropanis of land to the airport, started weeping with joy when he was able to see an airplane up close on Wednesday.
“Better late than never, the airport is complete and planes have begun arriving,” said Bhandari.
Bhandari, echoing the words of all the district residents, also requested the authorities to guarantee unhindered 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.

“Ilam is a major tourism destination. There is a need to create a trekking route to Mount Kanchenjunga via Sandakpur and Maipokhari,” said Khum Bahadur Subedi, central chairman at Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN).

Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) chairman Achyut Sharma Guragain also added that they were prepared to send foreign tourists to Ilam.
Similarly, Ram Bahadur Rana, a member of the Province 1 Provincial Assembly, called for coordination between the government and private sector to operate flights smoothly.