Birendra Bahadur Basnet honored With PATA Tourism Trailblazer Award 2022

KATHMANDU, Oct 01: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter and its Annual Awards Judging Committee has bestowed the "Tourism Trailblazer Award 2022" to Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet, who is one of Nepal's leading business personages and founder managing director of Buddha Air, the largest and most profitable national airline. 

Mr. Basnet was rewarded with the prestigious “Tourism Trailblazer Award 2022” during the PATA ID and World Tourism Day Celebration 2022 held on 26^th September at GATE, Kathmandu, in recognition of his exceptional leadership role and outstanding initiative over the years to strengthen the Nepali Aviation sector with his invaluable contribution and some pioneering initiatives to support the development of the aviation and tourism industry in his capacity as the Managing Director of Buddha Air.

 

With a graduation in Bachelor of Commerce from the Tribhuvan University; Mr. Basnet was always fascinated by entrepreneurship and business. Realizing the need and growing demand for air transport in the mountainous nation, he decided to make a difference by being a game-changer, the father-son trio- Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet, his father Mr. Surendra Bahadur Basnet and his brother Mr. Shivendra Bahadur Basnet established Buddha Air in 1997 and ever since the airline has been thriving each day under the professional supervision of Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet and the trusted team.

 

Buddha Air, a household name in the Nepali aviation sector has become the trademark of trust and safety, reaching towards the silver jubilee year of its service. This is the first airline in Nepal, and one of few in the South Asia region, to have a state-of-the-art closed-door hangar facility. Today, Buddha Air operates 46 flight routes in around 15 destinations, including its domestic and international destinations with the largest private fleet of aircraft, conducting over 100 flights each day. 

 

Buddha Air's team efforts led by Mr. Birendra Basnet and his commitment adherence to restarting tourism during the global pandemic, embracing Health, Hygiene, and Safety Protocols in place was remarkable and highly commendable.

 The recent pioneering initiative of Buddha Air to start Intercity Connectivity, establishing major touristic destination Pokhara, as the hub is indeed an admirable endeavor to promote, develop and expand the travel and tourism movement in the country.