Humla’s Simikot residents face significant challenges securing flight tickets for essential travel outside the district due to limited airline services. With Humla still disconnected from the national road network, locals rely heavily on flights from Simikot Airport to cities like Nepalgunj, Surkhet, Pokhara, and Butwal. However, reduced flight frequencies, especially during festival seasons like Dashain and Tihar, have made it increasingly difficult for residents to reach their destinations.
Private airlines such as Sita, Summit, and Tara Air operate flights to Simikot, but these are often irregular. Tara Air flies only on Mondays, while Sita and Summit Air operate only on Wednesdays. This infrequent schedule creates significant challenges for locals, even for urgent travel needs. Nepal Airlines operates two weekly flights on Mondays and Tuesdays, but locals report that getting a ticket requires waiting in long lines with no guarantee of availability.
Jay Kami from Simikot-8 shared his frustration at the airport, where he had been seeking a ticket to leave the district for his daughter’s treatment due to her kidney failure. He mentioned that despite providing referral papers from the district hospital, he was able to secure only one ticket for his family. “It’s disheartening to see patients struggling to leave for treatment due to a lack of tickets,” he lamented.
The Humla District Administration Office reported that Nepal Airlines prioritizes up to four tickets for patients with critical conditions on its two weekly flights. Despite these efforts, the demand often exceeds the limited supply.
Sandeep Bohara, a student from Simikot-2, studying agricultural technology in Palpa, expressed concern about missing his final exams because of ticket unavailability. Regular flights from Surkhet and Nepalgunj, which Sita, Tara, and Summit Airlines had agreed to operate, are frequently canceled or delayed, leaving travelers stranded and frustrated.
The shortage of flights has raised concerns among locals and officials alike, highlighting the urgent need for consistent air services to connect remote regions like Humla to the rest of the country.
Source: RSS