SOLUKHUMBU: Regular flights between Phaplu Airport in Salleri, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu, and Kathmandu will now operate four days a week.
Nepal Airlines has resumed flights on this route, with services scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
The Phaplu-Kathmandu air service had been suspended for an extended period due to a technical issue with the Nepal Airlines aircraft.
Senior officer of the Civil Aviation Authority (Phaplu), Bhanubhakta Acharya, confirmed that flights resumed following the repair of the aircraft. Previously, the aircraft was operating just once a week before being grounded, leading to a complete halt in services.
Tenji Sherpa, station chief of Nepal Airlines in Phaplu, said the flights were entirely suspended from Poush to Chaitra.
Mahesh Adhikari, a local businessman in Salleri, expressed relief over the resumption, stating, “The regular flights have removed the need to endure the difficult journey via the BP Highway to reach Kathmandu. However, it is important that this service remains consistent and dependable, rather than temporary.”
In the past, the lack of air service had caused significant challenges for locals in terms of travel, business, emergencies, and access to essential services.
With the resumption of flights, tourism entrepreneurs have expressed renewed optimism. Karma Sherpa, senior vice-president of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), noted that the revival of air connectivity is a welcome development for the district’s tourism industry.
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