Birendra Bahadur Basnet is the eldest son of Late Mr. Surendra Basnet. He was born on 6 July 1964 and received his primary and secondary education from Budhanilkantha High School where he inculcated the fundamental values of life which he would implement in one of Nepal’s most prestigious institutions. After graduating from Tribhuvan University, he started working in his father’s farm in Morang from 1984 to 1992. He is married to Mrs Sunita Sijapati Basnet and has two daughters, Arju Basnet and Astha Basnet. He initiated Buddha Air together with his father, brother and wife, and was running the company as its Managing Director until the passing of his father in December 2022. After the general meeting held on 6th March 2023 along with the company’s investors and board members, Birendra Bahadur Basnet was appointed as the Executive Chairperson of Buddha Air. In the past 25 years of his leadership in Buddha Air, it has come to be recognized as the people’s first choice of airlines in the country. With his vision and guidance, the airline has been able to provide affordable fare for all civilians regardless of their economic background. He is also actively involved in government and social institutions. He has been a member of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal since 2008. He is also an active member of his alumni association the Society of Ex Budhanilkantha Students and was its General Secretary in 1982 and an Executive member in 1983. Having come from an agricultural background, he initiated a not-for-profit company for community development - Nepal Krishi Care as Buddha Air’s long-term and consistent CSR which provides assistance to farmers in eastern terai to establish a farmer’s cooperative in the region. The main objective of this project is to increase the farmer’s average income and to ensure food security for the people.

Late Mr. Surendra Bahadur Basnet (1927 - 2023 AD) was born in Dingla, Bhojpur on Shrawan 27, 1984 BS into a simple Nepali family. After moving to Biratnagar where he received his primary and higher secondary education, he was sent to Varanasi Hindu University in India which was the custom of those days. He completed his LLB, BSC and then MA from the University before returning to Nepal to practice law. Mr. Basnet was appointed a judge in the Supreme Court of Nepal in 1964. Two years later, the then King Mahendra appointed him the Election Commissioner of Nepal with the responsibility of conducting the country’s first general election. He was later appointed Minister of Education and Law and the Minister for Finance and Industry. In 1970 he became the first chairman of the Press Council of Nepal. He served in various government commissions as chairman and a member until 1990. After more than four decades of an illustrious career, Mr. Basnet retired from civil service to manage his privately owned Bahumukhi Krishi Farm in Dangihat, (Morang). However, not being one to lead an easy retired life, he established Buddha Air with his sons in 1996 and led the company as the Founder Chairman until his demise on 10 Poush, 2079.