Four regular flights to operate from Phaplu to Kathmandu weekly

KATHMANDU, MAY 26: Nepal Airlines has resumed four weekly flights from Phaplu Airport in Salleri, the headquarters of Solukhumbu district, to Kathmandu. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the flights will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

The Phaplu–Kathmandu air service, which had been suspended for an extended period due to technical issues with the aircraft, is now back in operation. Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, a senior CAAN official based in Phaplu, confirmed that the resumption was made possible following the successful maintenance of the aircraft.

Previously, the service was limited to one flight per week, which was eventually grounded, leading to a complete halt in operations. Tenzing Sherpa, station chief of Nepal Airlines in Phaplu, stated that the service had remained fully suspended from mid-December 2024 to mid-April 2025.

Local residents and stakeholders have welcomed the resumption. Mahesh Adhikari, a businessman from Salleri, remarked, "With regular flights resuming, we no longer have to rely on the disaster-prone BP Highway to reach Kathmandu. However, the service must be consistent and reliable—not just a temporary arrangement."

The prolonged disruption had caused significant difficulties for travel, business, medical emergencies, and other essential activities. Karma Sherpa, Senior Vice President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), expressed relief on behalf of the tourism sector, noting that operators are enthusiastic about the revival of air connectivity in the popular tourist district.

RSS