Kathmandu: Domestic flights across Nepal will be suspended on Thursday, election day, as airlines cite severe transportation constraints that would prevent passengers from reaching airports. Although the Election Commission of Nepal has granted permission for flights to operate, domestic carriers say the lack of public and private transport services on polling day would cause significant inconvenience to travelers.
Yeti Airlines has already announced the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the day of the House of Representatives election, issuing a public notice confirming the suspension. Similarly, Buddha Air said it will halt operations for the day, arguing that with vehicles off the roads, passengers would struggle to access airports. The airline’s spokesperson, Dipendra Karn, noted that even if there were willing travelers, operating flights under such conditions would be impractical.
Shree Airlines echoed the same concerns, stating that beyond logistical difficulties, passenger demand is typically low on election day, making it unfeasible to maintain services.
According to Santosh Kumar Basnet, spokesperson for Tribhuvan International Airport, airports will remain open, and authorities will facilitate any airline that chooses to operate. While domestic flights will largely come to a standstill, international services will continue. As in previous elections, the Nepal Tourism Board will arrange shuttle bus services for international passengers traveling to and from the airport.
However, international air traffic is expected to remain lighter than usual, partly due to recent disruptions linked to airspace closures in parts of the Middle East, which have affected flights over the past several days.
Comment Here