Kathmandu, April 17
With the onset of the spring tourist season, numerous airlines are operating more than four dozen daily flights from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap to Lukla in Solukhumbu, facilitating tourists heading to the Everest region.
As per the statement of Yeti Airlines, the sister company of Tara Air, Tara Air's Twin Otter aircraft are operating 10 to 15 daily flights from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap to Lukla in Solukhumbu during this season.
In a bid to reduce air traffic congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport, regular flights to Lukla from Kathmandu have been shifted to Manthali since April 1. Summit Air, Tara Air, and Sita Air have been operating regular flights to Lukla from Manthali.
Previously, a single plane could only conduct two to three flights per day from TIA to Lukla.
However, since the commencement of flights from Manthali to Lukla, a single plane is now able to fly eight to 10 times per day.
According to Tara Air Spokesperson Sudarshan Bartaula, an aircraft of Tara Air is presently making five to eight daily flights from Manthali to Lukla.
"Foreign tourists can now travel by car from Kathmandu to Manthali in the morning and take a flight from Manthali to Lukla on the same day, making it much more convenient for them," he added.
Spring is considered the peak season for Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla as it serves as the primary gateway to the world-renowned Everest region.
During this time, the airport experiences a significant influx of tourists who visit the area for trekking and mountaineering activities, including the ascent of Mt Everest.
With the country preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of the successful ascent of Mt Everest this year, 319 climbers have received permissions so far to climb the world's tallest peak in the spring season of this year, as per the latest update, the Department of Tourism (DoT) under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Of the total royalties collected this spring season, more than Rs 442 million has been collected from issuing permits to climb Mt Everest alone.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 18, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
