After almost a decade and a half, the airports of Bajhang and Achham in Far West, which started operating partially in 2007, have been closed for 5 months. Dewal in Bajhang and Sanfebagar airport in Achham have been completely closed since the last week of 080 Chait. Both these airports were last flown by private sector Summit Air aircraft.

When the road traffic was blocked after the plane stopped operating and the patients who were in an emergency, traveling to Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj became uncomfortable.  When the

airport came into operation, Summit Air was flying regularly to both these airports two days a week. Dhangadhi-Bajhang-Dhangadhi, Bajhang-Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi-Samphebagar-Dhangadhi and Sanfebagar-Nepalgunj were flying two days a week. Nepal Airlines also flew to Bajhang and Sanfebagar for a few months when the road traffic in the Far West was disrupted due to floods in October 2007. 

Nepal Airlines, which provided air services to Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj for some time by establishing offices in both places, has now closed its offices in both places. "When the ship was running, it was easy and fast to travel even though it was only two days a week. Even the emergency patients could have been taken to the hospital quickly," said Sonu Singh, chairman of the Bajhang District Hospital Management Committee. "Now, when the road is closed, they have to stop here for two/three days. Referred patients have to die on the way without receiving timely treatment.' 

According to Singh, it takes 12 hours to bring emergency patients referred by the district hospital to Dhangadhi even under normal conditions. "Now sometimes the road is closed for two or three days. In such a situation, the patient's life is at risk," he said. Although Nepal Airlines closed its office, Summit Airlines was operating charter flights to Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj. Vijay Kunwar, the contact person of Summit Airlines Sanfebagar, said that the flight could not take place after the person contracted by Summit to fly the plane as a charter stopped working. 

The runways of both these airports, which were destroyed in the Maoist attack during the conflict, have been paved and the terminal building has also been made with modern technology. Locals say that when the airport is closed, the government's investment is useless and the common people are also deprived of the facilities. Leaders and public representatives of Achham and Bajhang say that their efforts to operate the airport regularly have not been successful.

Rajendra Kunwar, mayor of Sanfebagar, said that even though he approached various agencies to arrange regular flight of Nepal Airlines from Sanfebagar Airport, no one cared. Summit Airlines was flying. Now that too is closed. It also became expensive when run by the private sector. We have also talked to the Minister of Tourism many times to fly the Nepal Airlines plane, he said, but we have not been heard. 

Although the airport has been closed for 5 months, two employees of Nepal Civil Aviation Authority are working at both airports. Both airports have a head of office and a support staff. The head of the office has been on leave for a long time. Maybe he was on vacation because he was out of work at the airport. A local who lives near the Sanfebagar airport said, 'It is surprising to see the government not sending a ship to run the airport, and the employees are being paid without work.' The government of Nepal has spent more than 300 million to do the work. Similarly, Dipayal Airport in Doti and Patan Airport in Baitadi, which have been built with facilities including runway black paper, have not flown for years.