Buddha Air, one of the leading airline companies of Nepalstarted its maiden flight from Kolkata to Kathmandu.

On its inaugural flight, 56 passengers arrived fromKathmandu by flight number U4 163. Also 64 passengers departed from NetajiSubhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata by flight number U4 164.

The airline will operate three ATR-72 flights weekly betweenKathmandu and Kolkata.

Buddha Air operates domestic flights to 12 destinations aswell as 3 international. Its main base is Tribhuvan International Airport inKathmandu.

The airline was established on 23 April 1996 as a Private Limited Company by Surendra Bahadur Basnet and his son Birendra Bahadur Basnet.