Mountain flight resumes, waiting for foreign tourists

KATHMANDU, Nov 29: Mountain flight is considered to be very famous for viewing the attractive and picturesque mountain range including the highest peak, Mount Everest. Domestic and foreign travelers are eager to fly in the mountains. Due to favorable weather, the attraction of mountain flying is increasing.

Especially autumn is considered suitable for mountain flying. The mountain flight of the country, which was stopped due to COVID-19 infection, has started from Saturday. Buddha Air, a leading private airline, has started flying in the mountains about eight months after the shutdown. Buddha has started flying for the first time in the midst of the covid epidemic. Rupesh Joshi, Marketing Director of Buddha Air, informed that the mountain flights have been launched from Saturday with the objective of promoting domestic tourism.

There were 18 Nepali passengers on the first flight. Although there is attraction of both foreigners and Nepalis in mountain flights, there is no activity of foreign tourists now. Earlier, Buddha had last mountain flight on March 17, 2020. After that, flights were not opened in Nepal due to the embargo imposed on the country. Domestic flights were operational from 5 September and international regular flights were started from 16 September.

In order to attract domestic tourists, Buddha will operate mountain flights with attractive discounts and offers, said Director Joshi. It will operate mountain flights every Saturday. The company has stated that one more ticket is provided free of cost when the passengers of the mountain flight buy one ticket. Autumn is considered to be the best time for sightseeing and trekking. If the situation was normal, the mountain flights would be crowded. But still the situation is unfavorable.

The mountain flight takes one hour from Kathmandu. The flight starts from Tribhuvan International Airport, passes through Ganesh Himal, Everest, reaches Kanchenjunga Himal and lands at Kathmandu again. Domestic and foreign tourists are eager to see the beautiful view of the Mahabharata mountain range along with the high mountains.

Before the ban on mountain flights, Nepalis and Indians were charged Rs 8,825 and citizens of other countries were charged US$ 197. Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Simrik Airlines have been operating mountain flights. According to the Airline Operators Association, 19 airlines, including 10 helicopter companies, are currently operating domestic flights.