KATHMANDU: As many as 18 flights from Tribhuvan International Airports (TIA) have been canceled due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, affecting over 3,000 passengers.
Flights worldwide have been disrupted amid ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said Nepali flights were also impacted due to restrictions and disruptions in regional airspace.
According to Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul, 18 flights were affected on Saturday alone. Approximately 3,000 passengers were impacted as a result.
Three Nepal Airlines flights, from Kathmandu to Dammam, Doha, and Dubai, were canceled, affecting around 500 passengers. Similarly, four Qatar Airways flights were canceled, affecting about 800 passengers.
Four Fly Dubai flights were also canceled, impacting around 600 passengers. In addition, two Air Arabia flights to Sharjah affected about 300 passengers, three Himalaya Airlines flights to Dammam affected approximately 500 passengers, and two flights to Kuwait affected around 300 passengers.
There was heavy congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport on Saturday evening. Many passengers waited for hours before returning home after their flights were canceled.
Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports, has reportedly been closed following drone attacks attributed to Iran.
As several Gulf countries grapple with the Iran-Israel conflict, its ripple effects have reached Nepal. Bhul said disruptions may continue on Sunday. According to him, airports in Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia’s Dammam and Riyadh have been closed.
However, Turkish Airlines flights are operating regularly. The airline has rerouted its services through northern airspace to avoid affected areas.
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