Suketar Airport, which had been closed for over three months due to adverse weather conditions, has resumed flight operations as of Wednesday. The resumption was confirmed by Narayan Kumar Karki, the head of the Nepal Airlines Corporation’s station office. Karki explained that flights were now possible following improvements in weather conditions.
Although the airline had set a flight schedule several weeks ago, the adverse weather had prevented operations. The flight on Wednesday indicated that while the weather had not fully cleared, travel was still feasible. Currently, the airline has scheduled flights only once a week, which will continue on Wednesdays until September 30. If the weather improves and passenger demand increases, there are plans to add more flights.
Flight services at Suketar Airport had been suspended since May 11, marking a three-month interruption. The resumption of flights has generated a sense of hope among the locals. However, the first flight did not reach full capacity in either direction between Kathmandu and Taplejung. This suggests a need for increased promotion and regular flights to boost passenger numbers.
With major festivals like Dashain and Tihar approaching, and the tourist season nearing, the resumption of flights is expected to provide significant convenience to travelers. There is growing pressure on the airline to ensure regular services to accommodate both tourists and local passengers. The local residents have urged the airline to maintain regular flights during the peak tourist season.
Currently, only the Twin Otter aircraft operated by the airline is servicing the Suketar Airport. The fare for a one-way trip between Taplejung and Kathmandu is set at NPR 9,476 per person, as reported by the airline.
