Tourist arrivals in the Khumbu region have been severely hampered due to deteriorating weather conditions in the mid-autumn season. As air travel is the only viable option to reach Khumbu, the poor weather has left tourists unable to visit the Everest region.
On Friday, adverse weather once again prevented any flights from landing at Lukla’s Tenzing-Hillary Airport. According to airport chief Umesh Panthi, no flights have been able to operate since Thursday. With over 40 daily flights canceled, more than 900 tourists are missing out on their planned trips to Khumbu. Panthi mentioned that thick clouds have completely covered the approach routes to the airport, making safe landings impossible.
On Thursday alone, over 45 flights were canceled due to bad weather, despite airlines making up to 53 flights earlier in the week when the weather was favorable. During that period, nearly 1,000 tourists arrived daily, filling the region with excitement. Currently, three airlines—Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air—are operating over 30 flights daily from Manthali, Ramechhap, and an average of 10 flights from Kathmandu when conditions allow.
Panthi added, “Today, only 10 to 12 helicopters are flying, and no airplanes have taken off due to the poor weather.” On Wednesday, only 10 flights could operate because of similar weather challenges.
Local businessman Bijay Tamang stated that, despite clear skies at times, the Civil Aviation Authority has not been granting permission for planes to fly. Currently, around 12 helicopters are bringing in just 200 tourists daily, which is far below the usual numbers.
Namche Bazaar, one of the region’s main tourist hubs, is also waiting for an influx of visitors. According to Lama Kaji Sherpa, chairman of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, “The number of tourists arriving in Khumbu is very low. On Thursday, only 224 tourists came when there should have been around 1,000 per day.”
Namche’s hotels, typically packed during the trekking season, are now largely empty. Local businessman Chimikalden Sherpa shared that only around 300 tourists, who arrived by helicopter, are currently staying in Namche.
Additionally, landslides and flooding have damaged roads and bridges, making it impossible for tourists to reach Khumbu by land.
Source: eKantipur
