KATHMANDU: Flights between Kathmandu and Doha were severely affected on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano disrupted air routes, forcing two Qatar Airways widebody aircraft to remain grounded at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
TIA General Manager Hansaraj Pandey said the two flights, scheduled to depart at 10 AM and 11 AM, could not take off as the eruption released a cloud of ash affecting the designated air corridor.
“The two Qatar Airways widebody planes have not departed due to the ash cloud. Both aircraft are currently grounded in Nepal. We have received information that flights may resume by around 2 AM,” Pandey said, adding that other international flights remain unaffected.
The eruption has also impacted Korean Air’s operations, with the airline’s scheduled flight unable to reach Nepal today. The carrier is now expected to arrive only on Wednesday evening, according to Pandey.
The disruption in Qatar Airways’ Kathmandu–Doha and Doha–Kathmandu schedules has left hundreds of passengers stranded. As of Tuesday evening, many were still waiting inside the passenger terminal at TIA.
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