After a six-year hiatus, Buddha Air will resume direct flights between Kathmandu and Kolkata by mid-July 2025, capitalizing on Air India’s recent exit from the route. The Nepal-based carrier plans to operate four weekly flights, matching Air India’s previous frequency. Each one-way flight will take approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes, with fares starting at INR 14,000.
Rupesh Shrestha, Director of Sales and Marketing at Buddha Air, confirmed the decision was driven by renewed commercial viability and growing demand for regional connectivity between India and Nepal. Buddha Air had initially launched the route in 2019 but halted services after incurring losses of over INR 100 million within seven months.
Now, with increased interest in religious, leisure, and trade travel between the two countries, the airline is confident in the route’s potential. Buddha Holidays, the airline’s travel arm, will introduce curated packages for Kolkata-bound travelers to enhance the route’s appeal.
Looking ahead, Buddha Air also plans to expand its footprint in India with proposed flights to Guwahati, Lucknow, and other key cities, strengthening cross-border connectivity and tourism in the region.
