What's New

Private airlines started operating from Ramechhap Airport to Lukla in Solukhumbu on Sunday, marking the beginning of the tourism season. Sita Airlines, Tara Air, and Summit Air started operating flights from Ramechhap Airport. During the tourist season, Ramechhap Airport operated flights to Lukla, Solu.

Tourists traveling from the Kathmandu to the Everest Base Camp in Solukhumbu have used the land route (BP Highway) to reach the district headquarters in Ramechhap, Manthali. Since there are no flights from Ramechhap Airport to other locations, private planes have been free to fly. Every day, 45 to 60 planes depart from the airport toward Lukla, Solu. If there are no flights owing to inclement weather, people have traveled to Lukla by land.

The planes that flew on Sunday, when the weather was nice, carried 97 people. On Monday, however, they were unable to travel owing to severe weather in Lukla. Due to wind on the route, two Tara Air and Summit Air planes taking off from Ramechhap Airport for Lukla were suspended and diverted to Ramechhap, according to ATC Prajwal Guragain of the Ramechhap Civil Aviation Office.

Tourists had chartered helicopters to Lukla after the airplane was unable to fly for the entire day on Monday. Although the helicopters conducted 22 flights throughout the day, carrying 108 passengers, other tourists have reserved vehicles and traveled to Lukla. Various private airlines companies and travel companies  have been bringing passengers to Mount Everest's base camp to Ramechhap Airport via vehicle from the capital.

Because there is a considerable wait for takeoff and landing at Kathmandu Airport, flights to Lukla have been operated from Ramechhap Airport for several years during the high flight season.