KATHMANDU: Private airlines have temporarily suspended flights on the Pokhara–Jomsom route due to low tourist arrivals during the winter season. Summit Airlines and Tara Air cited adverse weather, the risk of snowfall, and the seasonal decline in passengers as reasons for halting operations.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Jomsom Office Chief Deepak Pokharel, both airlines normally operate regular flights on the route, but services have been paused. Chartered and emergency helicopter flights, however, are still operational.
Tara Airlines’ Mustang station in-charge, Suchan Lalchan, confirmed that Pokhara–Jomsom flights have been suspended from December 4 to March 4. Summit Airlines has already kept its services closed for the past two months.
Strong winter winds in Mustang significantly disrupt flight operations. Additionally, improved road connectivity along the Beni–Jomsom–Korala route has contributed to the further decline in air passengers.
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