Flights at Tenzing-Hillary Airport disrupted for 10 days due to adverse weather

SOLUKHUMBU: The disruption of flights at Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla has stressed out the tourists.

Adverse weather caused disruption of flights for 10 days. The tourists visiting the Khumbu region have been badly affected by the inconvenience in air service.

Air controller at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in Lukla, Divas Dahal, informed that fog and poor visibility disturbed air services. Both aeroplanes and helicopters have not been able to conduct flights since 8 June.

"It is the time when foreign tourists return to Kathmandu after travelling to the Sagarmatha region. The number of tourists leaving the district is more than arrivals. But adverse weather took a toll on air service," Dahal added. All flight schedules have been cancelled for 10 days. Thick fog has caused poor visibility.

However, Dahal informed that some helicopters were operated from Surke helipad located below Lukla. Geographical specificity is a problem for Lukla where dense fog occurs frequently this season, according to him. Surke is relatively clear.

Similarly, after a four-hour trek down from Lukla airport, travellers can get vehicles to Kathmandu. It is also an option for tourists to ride from Thamdanda to Kathmandu in a jeep.

By RSS

Thamdanda lies 70 kilometres (km) away from Salleri Bazaar, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu.

Rs 2,000 per person is the fare for a jeep ride from Salleri to Kathmandu, a 275km distance.