Just three months after its launch, Tara Air has suspended regular flights from Surkhet to Mugu, Humla, and Jumla districts, citing financial losses on every trip.
The service was officially inaugurated on December 4, 2024, by Karnali Province’s Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forests, and Environment, Suresh Adhikari.
Himali Tour & Travels, which managed these flights through Tara Air, attributed the suspension to a lack of government support and continued financial losses, as reported by state-owned news agency RSS. Min Bahadur Rawal of Himali Tour & Travels stated that despite an agreement to operate two weekly flights, sustaining the service without support proved unfeasible.
With the suspension of Surkhet flights, travelers to Karnali’s remote districts must now rely on Nepalgunj Airport in Banke district of Lumbini Province. Tara Air, Summit Air, and Goma Air continue to operate flights from Nepalgunj to Humla, Jumla, Mugu, and Dolpa.
Nepal Airlines, the state-owned carrier, neither operates flights from Surkhet nor maintains an office in Karnali Province, according to RSS.
Yeti Airlines Conducts Test Flights in Surkhet and Dhangadhi
Meanwhile, Yeti Airlines successfully conducted test flights at Surkhet and Dhangadhi airports on Saturday, March 8. The airlines’ spokesperson Sudarshan Bartoula told RSS that an ATR 72 aircraft was used for the flights.
Bartoula stated that the test flights were conducted to assess the feasibility of regular operations at these airports, with plans to designate them as alternative hubs. A decision on scheduled flights will be made based on the test flight reports, he added.
Earlier, on March 4, Yeti successfully completed a test flight to Rajbiraj Airport in Saptari district of Madhes Province.
RSS
