Air service at Tarigaun Airport in Dang has resumed after a gap of about one and a half months, restoring a direct air connection between Dang and Kathmandu. The resumption comes after flights were disrupted by unfavorable weather conditions, forcing passengers in the district to rely on alternative airports and lengthy road journeys. The return of the service is expected to provide passengers with a faster travel option and improve connectivity between Dang and the capital, particularly as officials anticipate more regular operations in the coming days.
According to Pradeep Bhusal, a senior official at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, a Nepal Airlines aircraft landed at Tarigaun Airport on Thursday after the prolonged interruption. The resumption is significant for passengers who have faced uncertainty over the availability of the route, as irregular air service has made it difficult for travelers to plan their journeys. Officials have now said that the Kathmandu-Dang service is expected to operate regularly, provided weather conditions remain favorable.
Nepal Airlines Restores Direct Kathmandu Dang Connection
The resumed service was operated by a 19-seat Nepal Airlines aircraft, which carried eight passengers traveling from Kathmandu to Dang and four passengers flying from Dang to Kathmandu. Although the number of passengers on the first flight was relatively small, the return of scheduled service restores an important transport link for the district and surrounding areas. Regular flights are particularly useful for passengers who need to reach Kathmandu quickly and cannot afford the additional time required for long-distance road travel.
Bhusal said Nepal Airlines will now operate flights between Kathmandu and Dang four days a week: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The flights are scheduled to be available between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., giving passengers a defined window for air travel between the two destinations. The current fare is around NPR 12,000, making the service an alternative for travelers seeking to avoid the longer journey by road. Officials expect the scheduled operation to provide greater predictability for passengers compared with the irregular service experienced previously.
750 Meter Runway Restricts Aircraft Operations
Despite the restoration of flights, Tarigaun Airport continues to face a major infrastructure constraint because of its relatively short runway. The airport currently has a runway of only 750 meters, which limits its ability to accommodate larger aircraft and means that only small planes, including the 19-seat aircraft currently operated by Nepal Airlines, can land there. The restricted aircraft capacity has remained one of the major challenges affecting the airport’s ability to provide broader and more frequent air connectivity to Dang.
The limitations become more significant when flights are disrupted or unavailable, as passengers from the district are then required to travel to Nepalgunj or Bhairahawa to access air services. Such arrangements can add considerable travel time and additional transportation costs, particularly for passengers who are already traveling long distances. For residents as well as visitors coming to Dang, dependable air connectivity would provide a more convenient alternative and could reduce the district’s reliance on neighboring airports for domestic air travel.
Airport Expansion Remains a Long-Standing Demand
The demand to expand Tarigaun Airport and make it capable of handling larger aircraft has been raised repeatedly over the years. However, despite continued calls for runway expansion and infrastructure improvement, the airport has not yet undergone the level of development required to significantly increase its operational capacity. Established in 1954, Tarigaun Airport has continued to serve the area despite its limited runway, leaving expansion and modernization as long-standing priorities for local authorities and residents.
There is now renewed attention on upgrading the airport, with NPR 25 crore allocated in the current fiscal year for its improvement. The allocation could support efforts to strengthen the airport’s infrastructure and address some of the limitations that have restricted its operations. However, the long term effectiveness of the investment will depend on how the planned upgrading work is implemented and whether it can eventually create conditions for larger aircraft and more reliable services.
Regular Flights Could Strengthen Regional Tourism
The restoration of the Kathmandu-Dang route could have implications beyond passenger convenience, particularly for regional tourism and travel connectivity. More reliable air service can make destinations in and around Dang easier to access for domestic visitors, business travelers, and tourists who may otherwise face lengthy journeys by road. Improved connectivity is also important for supporting movement between Dang and Kathmandu, especially during periods when road travel is affected by weather or other disruptions.
For Tarigaun Airport, however, maintaining regular flights will remain the immediate priority while authorities work toward addressing its infrastructure limitations. The combination of resumed Nepal Airlines service and the NPR 25 crore upgrading budget provides an opportunity to improve the airport’s role in regional connectivity. If services remain consistent and planned improvements are effectively carried out, Tarigaun could become a more dependable gateway for Dang, strengthening both passenger mobility and access to the region for visitors.
