Rajbiraj Airport (RJB)

Rajbiraj Airport operates as a vital regional aviation gateway serving Saptari District in Nepal's Madhesh Province, positioned 5 kilometers south of central Rajbiraj at Bisangapur Municipality at 250 feet elevation, representing a remarkable success story of infrastructure resurrection following its historic reopening on May 23, 2018, after eleven years of complete shutdown. Originally inaugurated in 1959 by transportation minister Ganesh Man Singh, this facility underwent comprehensive modernization with Rs 303 million government investment through the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), transforming from an abandoned airstrip into a functional regional airport connecting the lowland Terai region to Nepal's national aviation network.

The airport features a completely rebuilt asphalt runway 11/29 measuring 1,500 meters long by 30 meters wide with modern blacktop surface, complemented by essential infrastructure including a 90-meter by 60-meter apron and 110-meter by 20-meter taxiway, all designed to accommodate 50-seat regional aircraft including the CRJ-200 operated by Shree Airlines connecting Rajbiraj to Kathmandu. Basic terminal facilities provide essential passenger processing for the limited but strategically important domestic service that resumed on June 24, 2018, following successful test flights and infrastructure certification by aviation safety officials.

Operational characteristics reflect the airport's specialized role serving the unique geography and tourism potential of the Koshi River region, facilitating access for visitors to the renowned Koshi Barrage engineering marvel, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve with its diverse bird and wildlife populations, and providing convenient transit access to nearby Indian border towns. The facility's location in the subtropical Terai lowlands creates seasonal operational considerations including monsoon weather patterns and regional flooding that historically challenged aviation operations before the modern infrastructure upgrades.

Strategic importance encompasses the airport's function bridging Nepal's isolated Madhesh Province communities with national transportation networks while supporting conservation tourism and cross-border commerce in the sensitive Koshi River delta region. Ground transportation provides efficient access to Rajbiraj's commercial center and the internationally significant Koshi Tappu ecosystem, while the airport serves as a symbol of governmental commitment to maintaining aviation connectivity for Nepal's diverse regional communities, demonstrating how sustained investment and technical expertise can successfully revive abandoned infrastructure to serve contemporary transportation needs in challenging geographical environments.