The long-suspended Pokhara–Jomsom air service has officially resumed after a three-month winter break, raising hopes for improved connectivity and tourism in the Mustang district. However, despite preparations to restart flights from Monday, adverse weather conditions have prevented aircraft from operating on the route so far.
Officials say the service, which had remained closed during the winter season due to extreme weather and low tourist arrivals, is expected to operate regularly once weather conditions improve.
Flights Resume After Winter Suspension
According to the Civil Aviation Office in Jomsom, the Pokhara–Jomsom route was scheduled to restart on Monday following nearly three months of suspension during the winter season. Private airlines operating on the route had halted flights due to harsh winter conditions, including extreme cold, possible snowfall, and poor visibility. These conditions make flying in the mountainous region particularly challenging.
Although flights were expected to begin this week, unfavorable weather prevented aircraft from taking off on both Monday and Tuesday. Deepak Pokharel, chief of the Jomsom Civil Aviation Office, said preparations for resuming the service had already been completed, but weather conditions disrupted the planned operations.
Flight Schedules Set but Canceled Due to Weather
Airlines had already prepared flight schedules to resume the service. A Tara Air flight was scheduled for Monday, while both Tara Air and Summit Air had planned flights for Tuesday. However, persistent bad weather conditions forced airlines to cancel these flights.
According to Pokharel, Tuesday’s schedule included two flights from Pokhara to Jomsom by Tara Air and three flights by Summit Air. All these flights were canceled due to poor weather. He added that the Pokhara–Jomsom air service will resume regular operations as soon as weather conditions become favorable.
Airlines Had Suspended Services for the winter
The Pokhara–Jomsom air route, which is one of the most scenic yet challenging mountain flight paths in Nepal, is usually suspended during the harsh winter months when tourism declines and the weather becomes unpredictable.
Previously, Tara Air had announced the suspension of flights from December 4 to March 1, citing unfavorable weather conditions and low tourist demand during the winter season. Similarly, Summit Air had also decided to halt its Pokhara–Jomsom flights from December 1 to February 1. Although both airlines had planned to resume operations earlier, the reopening was delayed due to other factors, including the timing of a recent parliamentary by-election.
Election and Off-Season Tourism Also Affected Flights
According to aviation officials, the House of Representatives by-election held on Falgun 21 (early March) also contributed to delays in restarting the service. Tourist arrivals during the period remained low due to the election schedule, prompting airlines to postpone the resumption of flights. With the election now completed, airline operators expect an increase in passenger bookings for flights between Pokhara and Jomsom in the coming weeks.
Suchan Lalchan, station in-charge of Tara Air in Jomsom, said that although tourist arrivals were affected during the election period, bookings have started to increase after the election concluded. “We expect the number of passengers to rise now that the election is over, and people have begun booking tickets for flights,” Lalchan said.
Tourism Expected to Rise With Spring Season
The arrival of the spring season generally marks the beginning of increased tourist activity in Mustang. The district attracts thousands of visitors every year, especially those traveling to the famous Muktinath Temple, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists.
A large portion of these pilgrims traditionally travel by air from Pokhara to Jomsom before continuing their journey to Muktinath. However, recent border restrictions and other travel challenges have affected the arrival of Indian pilgrims, who make up a significant share of visitors to Mustang. Officials estimate that around 150,000 foreign tourists visit Mustang annually, with nearly 70 percent being Indian pilgrims traveling for religious purposes.
Road Connectivity Reducing Air Passenger Numbers
While air travel remains an important means of transportation in the mountainous region, improved road connectivity has gradually reduced the number of passengers choosing flights. The development of the Beni–Jomsom–Korala Road, a national pride project, has made road travel to Mustang easier than in the past.
As a result, many travelers, especially Indian pilgrims, now prefer to reach Muktinath by road instead of taking flights. Aviation officials noted that at one time, private airlines operated up to 18 flights per day on the Pokhara–Jomsom route. However, in recent years, the number of flights has dropped significantly, with fewer than 10 daily flights operating on average.
Only Two Airlines Currently Operating on the Route
At present, only two private airlines, Tara Air and Summit Air, operate flights on the Pokhara–Jomsom route. Although the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines still maintains a ticket booking office in Jomsom, it has not operated flights on this route for a long time. Despite these challenges, aviation officials remain hopeful that improved weather conditions, the spring tourism season, and rising travel demand will help restore regular flights and boost tourism in the Mustang region.
