Persistent fog and rain disrupt flights across Nepal

KATHMANDU: Persistent rainfall and thick fog have severely reduced visibility across Nepal since Thursday, causing widespread disruption to flight operations.

In a notice issued on Friday, Yeti Airlines warned passengers that flights may be delayed or rescheduled because of the bad weather, and advised travellers to check updated flight information on its official website or mobile application before travelling to the airport.

Buddha Air said services to Pokhara, Bharatpur and Tumlingtar have been affected by low visibility, and mountain flights have been suspended owing to the adverse conditions. The carrier currently operates domestic services to Bhadrapur, Tumlingtar, Biratnagar, Rajbiraj, Janakpur, Simara, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Surkhet and Dhangadhi, as well as international routes to Varanasi and Kolkata in India.

Yeti Airlines spokesperson Sudarshan Bartaula said the flight bound for Pokhara was unable to depart because of poor visibility, and that services to several other destinations experienced delays as a result of the inclement weather.

The suspension and disruption of domestic schedules have led to an increase in passenger numbers at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.