Solukhumbu – Bad weather has caused significant trouble for tourists as air flights at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla have been suspended. Since May 26th, no flights have taken off from the overcrowded airport, leaving many visitors stranded in the Khumbu region.
Diwas Dahal, the Air Traffic Controller at the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority in Lukla, reported that high winds and low visibility have grounded both planes and helicopters. “This is the peak season for tourists returning from the Everest region. Currently, more tourists are trying to leave than arrive, but the adverse weather has led to the cancellation of all flights for the past ten days. Visibility is extremely poor, and flying conditions are unsafe,” he explained.
The challenging weather conditions have also affected helicopter operations. Helicopters, unable to land at Lukla, are now using the Surke helipad, located at a lower altitude. From Surke, tourists are flown to Kathmandu. Dahal emphasized that Lukla’s unique geographical structure further complicates flight operations.
Amrit Magar, head of Tara Air’s Lukla station, confirmed that unfavorable weather has led to the suspension of flights, causing distress among tourists. “As the tourist season winds down in Khumbu, there are more people leaving than arriving. Although some tourists are still coming sporadically, the majority are trying to return home,” he stated.
With flights suspended, tourists are forced to undertake a four-hour walk to Thamdanda, where they can catch a vehicle to Kathmandu via Salleri. The 70 km journey from Thamdanda to Salleri is on an unpaved road, suitable only for Bolero vehicles. Transport businessman Ram Bahadur Bishwakarma mentioned that the fare from Thamdanda to Salleri is Rs. 2,000 per person. From Salleri, which is 275 km away from Kathmandu, tourists can travel by plane, jeep, or bus, costing an additional Rs. 2,000 per person.
The weather forecast division has indicated that the adverse weather is unlikely to improve soon. Meteorologist Raju Pradhanang stated, “The monsoon entering Koshi in the east is very active, with a high probability of continued rain. Air flights may remain disrupted for several more days.”
As the sole airport in the Everest region, Tenzing-Hillary Airport is crucial for domestic and international tourists visiting this major destination. It connects with Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport and Ramechhap’s Manthali Airport. According to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, over 60,000 tourists pass through this airport annually. Toyakumar Shrestha of Lukla highlighted the airport’s increasing importance, noting that the area lacks a comprehensive road network.
Tourists arriving in Lukla from Kathmandu typically begin their trek from here. With no other operational airports in the vicinity, Tenzing-Hillary Airport remains the only air route for those visiting the Khumbu region.
