(KOLKATA, INDIA) Buddha Air will restore the only nonstop link between Kolkata and Kathmandu on September 1, 2025, reopening a key air corridor for tourism, business, and families after an 11‑month pause. The carrier’s return as sole operator on the Kolkata–Kathmandu route follows Air India’s exit in October 2024 and a postponed launch by Air India Express, leaving travelers without direct flights for nearly a year.
Industry leaders in both countries expect the relaunch to ease travel planning, cut journey times, and support cross‑border ties at a sensitive moment for Nepal’s tourism recovery. The airline will operate four weekly services—Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays—using a 70‑seat ATR 72‑500 turboprop, with a flight time of about 85–90 minutes. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the timing aligns with peak autumn travel and could help stabilize fares that rose during the gap in nonstop options.
Buddha Air’s move also reinforces its long‑running India strategy, which has centered on Varanasi and now adds Kolkata as its second Indian destination.
Route resumption and schedule
- Start date: September 1, 2025
- Frequency: 4x weekly (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun)
- Aircraft: ATR 72‑500 (70 seats)
- Block time: About 85–90 minutes
- Operator: Buddha Air is the sole carrier on the route as of September 2025
The Kolkata–Kathmandu service was suspended in 2019 amid low demand and pandemic headwinds. While Nepal’s skies have since reopened, nonstop capacity lagged after Air India ended operations and Air India Express delayed its planned March 2025 entry.
Travel groups—including the Travel Agents Association of India and the Travel Agents Federation of India—say a reliable timetable is key for tour packages and visiting‑friends‑and‑relatives traffic. With Buddha Air back, passengers avoid time‑consuming connections via Delhi or other hubs.
Buddha Air’s sales and marketing leadership has framed the restart as a commercial opening with broader regional value. The route taps steady demand from:
- Indian pilgrims headed to Nepal’s heritage sites
- Nepali workers and students with ties to eastern India
- Small and mid‑size businesses trading across the border
The ATR fits this market: its lower operating cost supports sustainable pricing on a short sector, while the cabin size suits steady, year‑round loads rather than only peak‑season spikes.
Travel rules and safety context
As of September 1, 2025, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has reaffirmed that Nepali and Bhutanese citizens do not need a passport or visa to enter India by land or air, except when arriving from China, Macau, Hong Kong, or Pakistan. Indian citizens can enter Nepal with a government‑issued photo ID, such as a Voter ID card. These long‑standing rules make the Kolkata–Kathmandu link especially attractive for quick trips where passport processing is a barrier for some travelers.
At the same time, travelers should stay alert to safety advice. Early September saw youth‑led protests in Kathmandu that forced a temporary shutdown of Tribhuvan International Airport and disrupted schedules across the region. Regular flights have resumed, and carriers added extra services to clear backlogs.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has asked citizens to defer non‑essential travel until conditions fully stabilize and to follow local guidance if already in Nepal. For the latest official guidance, check the MEA’s advisories page at the Government of India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
During the unrest, both countries tightened border controls for short periods. Those measures have eased, but passengers should:
- Confirm flight status and allow extra time for airport procedures
- Reconfirm bookings 24 hours before departure
- Arrive early, keeping in mind possible security surges
Note that Nepal restricts Indian currency: ₹500 notes are not accepted. Carry smaller denominations to pay for taxis, on‑arrival expenses, and regional purchases.
What the relaunch means for travelers and the industry
For passengers:
– Shorter door‑to‑door times and fewer missed connections, thanks to direct flights
– Easier planning for weekend trips, medical visits, and family events aligned with the Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun schedule
– A more predictable option during festival peaks when connecting flights sell out
For tourism and small business:
– Better alignment with tour itineraries that bundle Kolkata’s cultural circuit with Nepal’s trekking and heritage routes
– Improved reliability for cargo‑light shipments, samples, and trade meetings that benefit from same‑day turns
– A platform for recovery after months of uncertainty tied to route withdrawals and protest‑related delays
For students and workers:
– A stable schedule that supports semester start dates, job onboarding, and quick home visits without overnight layovers
– Lower incidental costs, since nonstop travel cuts hotel nights and extra meals during transit
Airports on both ends also stand to benefit. Kolkata gains a regional link that diversifies its international map beyond Gulf and Southeast Asia flows, while Kathmandu secures a steady Indian feeder that can help rebuild inbound tourism.
If loads hold, Buddha Air has signaled interest in deeper India expansion, with Guwahati and Lucknow under study—moves that would further knit eastern India and Nepal into a tighter travel network.
Tickets are available through Buddha Air, which advises travelers to monitor schedules closely during the initial weeks as operations scale up. Given recent disruptions, flyers should:
- Reconfirm bookings 24 hours before departure
- Arrive early, keeping in mind possible security surges
- Carry alternative IDs and photocopies
- Keep emergency contacts for the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and local authorities
Fares, risks, and outlook
Airfares will be watched closely. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry has urged carriers to keep pricing reasonable on constrained routes, a message echoed by trade groups that want early bookings to stick. With only one operator, fare swings can occur during peaks. Industry observers expect competitive pressure to grow if another airline restarts service, but for now, consistent supply from Buddha Air may help flatten last‑minute spikes.
The coming months will test the route’s staying power. Success depends on:
- Sustained demand across weekdays, not only weekends
- Strong tourist flows into Nepal’s autumn trekking season
- Confidence that recent protests will not return
- Continued clarity from both governments on entry rules that keep border formalities simple
For now, the message to travelers is straightforward: nonstop Kolkata–Kathmandu flights are back from September 1, 2025, four times per week, on an ATR 72‑500, with a flight time under 90 minutes. Pack smaller rupee notes, carry the right ID, check the latest advisory before you go, and expect a smoother trip than any connection can offer.
This Article in a Nutshell
Buddha Air will resume nonstop Kolkata–Kathmandu flights on September 1, 2025, restoring a vital air corridor after an 11‑month pause following Air India’s withdrawal and a delayed competitor entry. The carrier will operate four weekly flights (Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun) using a 70‑seat ATR 72‑500 with flight times around 85–90 minutes. The restart aims to ease travel planning, reduce journey times, and support pilgrims, students, workers, tourists and small businesses. Favorable bilateral entry rules (Nepali and Bhutanese typically don’t need passports/visas for India; Indians may enter Nepal with government ID) enhance the route’s appeal. Travelers should monitor safety advisories after recent protests that disrupted Kathmandu’s airport, reconfirm bookings 24 hours prior, carry smaller Nepali rupee denominations (₹500 often not accepted), and allow extra time at airports. With Buddha Air as the sole operator, fares could fluctuate, but steady service may stabilize pricing until competitors return. The airline is also studying potential expansion to Guwahati and Lucknow, which would deepen regional connectivity.
