Phalgunanda Sukilumba Airport in Ilam, which had been closed for the past three months due to adverse weather conditions, is set to resume operations this Thursday. The airport’s station in-charge, Dinesh Sundas, confirmed that flights would recommence after a hiatus caused by the onset of the monsoon season.
The last flight from the airport was on Jestha 13, when a Nepal Airlines plane took off. Since then, no flights have been possible. On Jestha 17, a flight from Kathmandu to Ilam had to turn back due to poor weather conditions, making landing impossible.
While a flight was scheduled for last Thursday, it was canceled due to a lack of passengers. Sundas mentioned that flights will only resume when weather conditions improve, with plans to operate flights every Thursday moving forward.
Nepal Airlines has been operating the Kathmandu-Ilam-Kathmandu route since Magh 1, 2079. Previously, the airline offered two flights per week on Sundays and Thursdays, but moving forward, flights will be limited to Thursdays only.
Located in Ilam Municipality-9, Phalgunanda Sukilumba Airport serves not only the hilly district of Ilam but also passengers from Panchthar and various parts of India, making travel to and from Kathmandu more convenient.
