3/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Essential components such as passenger amenities, baggage processing systems, and require further development to ensure smooth and efficient operations.”
Abhishek R. Bajracharya5★ on Google
Airports / Nepal / BWA
Large airport · BWA
Gautam Buddha International Airport.
Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa), Nepal · 358 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.0/5
Google rating
2,074 ratings
0
Operators based
358
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa), NepalELEV 358 FTLarge airportScheduled service
4.0
Google rating
2,074
Google reviews
ratings on Google
358
Field elevation
feet above sea level
46
Nearest alternate
nm to GOP
Field standing
#3 / 9
Nepal airports by Google rating
4.0★ across 2074 Google ratings , ranked against 9 rated Nepal fields.
46 nm
To the nearest alternate
Gorakhpur Airport (GOP).
Overview
Gautam Buddha International Airport (VNBW / BWA) sits in Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa), Nepal, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The airport sits 358 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into BWA for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Gorakhpur Airport (GOP, 46 nm), Kushinagar International Airport (KBK, 51 nm), and Pokhara Domestic Airport (PKR, 52 nm). With a single 9,843-foot paved runway, BWA can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from BWA depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under Bhairahawa Airport. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa).
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What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“The international runway, terminal building, and basic operational systems reflect planning aimed at long-term growth and improved connectivity.”
Abhishek R. Bajracharya5★ on Google
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“The domestic terminal’s layout, passenger handling capacity, and overall service quality remain below the benchmarks set by international aviation authorities.”
Abhishek R. Bajracharya5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Gautam Buddha International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
VNBW
IATA
BWA
FAA / Local
VNBW
Elevation
358 ft
Coordinates
27.5046° N · 83.4104° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Nepal fields
state range 236–9,380 ft
At 358 ft, BWA sits lower than 67% of the 9 Nepal fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 9,843 ft
- 10/289,843 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 9,843 ft
BWA's 9,843 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 46nmGOPGorakhpur AirportGorakhpur
- 51nmKBKKushinagar International AirportKushinagar
- 52nmPKRPokhara Domestic AirportPokhara
- 52nmPHHPokhara International AirportPokhara
- 81nmAYJMaharshi Valmiki International AirportFaizabad
- 99nmKEPNepalgunj AirportNepalgunj
Location
Open the full mapVNBW · Gautam Buddha International Airport · Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa), Nepal
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from BWA on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 4,887 nm | 11h 46m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,097 nm | 14h 35m |
| Honolulu (HNL) | 6,197 nm | 14h 49m |
| Boston (BED) | 6,379 nm | 15h 14m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 6,467 nm | 15h 26m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,516 nm | 15h 33m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 6,608 nm | 15h 46m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 6,618 nm | 15h 47m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use BWA?
- Gautam Buddha International Airport's longest paved runway is 9,843 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at BWA?
- Gautam Buddha International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 9,843 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to BWA?
- The closest alternate is Gorakhpur Airport (GOP), about 46 nm away, followed by Kushinagar International Airport (KBK) at 51 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from BWA to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 11h 46m (4,887 nm), Seattle about 14h 35m (6,097 nm), Honolulu about 14h 49m (6,197 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.