Kathmandu: Escalating tensions in the Middle East since Saturday have led to the closure of airspace in nine countries, severely disrupting international air travel, including flights to and from Nepal.
As a result, services from Tribhuvan International Airport to destinations such as Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been suspended. At least 21 flights operated by seven airlines connecting Nepal with these countries have been affected.
Despite widespread cancellations, airport officials said passengers have continued arriving at the airport to inquire about their flights, only to return home after learning of the disruptions. According to airport spokesperson Santosh Kumar Basnet, most of the 40 scheduled international departures from Kathmandu were cancelled after airlines were unable to operate services.
Airspace has been closed in Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Bahrain, bringing flights to and from these destinations to a complete halt. All routes linking Nepal with these countries are currently suspended.
Among the affected carriers are Jazeera Airways with one flight, Kuwait Airways with two, Air Arabia with three, flydubai with three, Nepal Airlines with three, Qatar Airways with three, and Himalaya Airlines with six flights impacted.
Of the 11 daily international flights operated by Nepal Airlines, only five were scheduled to operate on Sunday. These include services from Kathmandu to Mumbai in India, Guangzhou in China, Narita in Japan and Dubai in the UAE. However, the airline has not confirmed whether the Dubai flight will proceed given the ongoing regional tensions, although it remains listed on the schedule for 11:15 p.m. Sunday departure.
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