Flights to Shanghai and Taplejung Resume Ahead of Festive Season
Himalaya Airlines has restarted direct Kathmandu–Shanghai services and Nepal Airlines has reopened flights to Taplejung's Suketar Airport, restoring vital links ahead of Dashain and autumn tourism.
Nepal's air connectivity received a simultaneous boost on both domestic and international fronts on Monday, as carriers resumed suspended services ahead of the peak autumn tourism and festival season.
In international operations, Himalaya Airlines restarted direct flights connecting Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport with Shanghai Pudong International Airport, according to reporting by Onlinekhabar. The resumption restores the only direct commercial air link between Nepal and the Chinese financial hub.
Flight H9780 departed Kathmandu at 7:11 pm on Monday evening and touched down in Shanghai at 2:36 am local time on Tuesday, Onlinekhabar English reported. The aircraft completed its turnaround and arrived back in Kathmandu at 8:13 am Nepal time. The private carrier is initially scheduling two weekly round trips, departing Kathmandu on Mondays and Fridays and returning from Shanghai on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with plans to expand frequency based on passenger load.
Himalaya Airlines Vice President Bijay Shrestha told the outlet that the route aims to strengthen commercial, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between Nepal and China. The carrier expects incoming traffic from Shanghai to aid the country's broader hospitality sector and economic recovery during the autumn travel window.
Meanwhile, remote domestic connectivity in eastern Nepal saw a major reopening on Monday as Nepal Airlines Corporation resumed regular flights between Kathmandu and Suketar Airport in Taplejung. The mountain airstrip had been closed since June 5 (Jestha 22) after dense monsoon fog and persistent low visibility forced groundings.
Reporting differed slightly on the duration of the shutdown: Nepal Views reported that services resumed after roughly four months, whereas Nepal Khabar characterized the hiatus as lasting three and a half months.
On Monday's inaugural return flight, a Nepal Airlines Twin Otter aircraft ferried 13 passengers into Suketar from the capital and carried five passengers back to Kathmandu, Suketar air traffic controller Dilip Rajbanshi told Nepal Khabar. Dilip Rajbanshi also noted that adverse weather and repeated cloud cover had grounded flights throughout the rainy period, leaving local travelers and mountain visitors stranded.
According to Nepal Views, Nepal Airlines Taplejung station in-charge Narayan Kumar Karki confirmed that operations could finally resume thanks to clearing skies. The national flag carrier has adjusted its operating schedule: instead of the previous Monday, Wednesday, and Friday rotation, services will now run on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The one-way fare has been fixed at Rs 12,270 for Kathmandu to Taplejung and Rs 12,070 for the return trip.
The resumption of flights to Taplejung arrives just before the Dashain and Tihar festive rush, offering vital transport to families visiting relatives. Nepal Khabar highlighted that reliable air links are critical for pilgrims visiting the revered Pathibhara temple and mountaineers heading toward Mount Kanchenjunga, though local residents cited persistent challenges such as aircraft shortages and technical hurdles that have historically undermined flight reliability.