Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will operate a special flight between Kathmandu and Bhairahawa on October 10, coinciding with the Fulpati day of the Bada Dashain festival, to facilitate stranded passengers.
NAC decided to launch this rescue flight to assist travelers affected by damaged highways and roads due to recent floods and landslides. Issuing a statement, NAC said this flight will help people reach their destinations during the Dashain festival.
NAC Executive Chair Yubaraj Adhikari confirmed the operation of the Kathmandu-Bhairahawa-Kathmandu flight following the instructions of Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey.
According to NAC officials, this is the first time that the flag carrier of Nepal is using its narrow-body aircraft for domestic flight.
As per the NAC flight schedule, the A320 aircraft will depart from Kathmandu at 11:00 AM and return from Bhairahawa at 12:30 PM. The one-way fare is set at Rs 7,000 from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa and Rs 3,890 for the return trip.
The Kathmandu Valley experiences a significant exodus of people during the Dashain festival each year, as many residents leave the city to return to their hometowns and villages to celebrate the festival with family. This period sees heavy movement of travelers, often leading to congested highways, packed public transportation, and increased demand for flights and bus tickets. The mass departure, which typically begins several days before the festival, empties the city of a large portion of its population, resulting in quieter streets and reduced daily activity in the otherwise bustling Valley. (With inputs from RSS)
