Meghauli Airport of Chitwan, which remained closed for long, has officially come into operation from Wednesday.

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will operate three flights in a week from the next week.

Elated with the operation of airport after a long hiatus, locals welcomed the crew members and passengers, who landed at the airport by the NAC aircraft, with garlands.

Operators of Meghauli Serai, Sarang Wildlife Camp and Hotel Barahi had reached the airport to welcome them.

According to Keshav Lamsal, Air Traffic Controller at the airport, there will be one flight each on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Former Chairman of Meghauli Tourism Development Committee Bishwo Subedi said that the airport that came into operation for the first time in 1961 closed its services from 2010.

The landing strip had been carved out of the jungle in 1961 for the visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip to Chitwan.

Subsequently, the airport served adventure seekers visiting Tiger Tops until the government decided to remove all resorts and hotels inside Chitwan National Park. The airport has been lying idle for seven years.