Airlines double daily flights to Jomsom as passenger traffic swells

By Hari Krishna Sharma, Muktinath (Mustang), Oct. 4: Air passenger traffic on the Pokhara–Jomsom route has increased after the Beni–Jomsom–Korala section of the Kali Gandaki Corridor was blocked by floods, landslides and erosion along the Kali Gandaki River. 

With the rise in passenger demand, private airlines have more than doubled their flights from Pokhara.

Jomsom Airport Chief Bishwa Raj Sharma said that passenger numbers had increased after heavy rainfall from September 24 to 27 blocked the 76-km Beni–Jomsom road, leaving air travel as the only option for people travelling to and from Mustang.

“Passenger pressure has increased since the road was blocked. There are seven flights a day by an airline each,” Sharma said.

According to Sharma, flights were suspended for three days after visibility was reduced due to heavy rainfall in the last week of September. However, Tara Air, a subsidiary of Yeti Airlines, and Summit Air have been operating seven flights each. In the past, when the road network was functioning normally, the airlines operated a maximum of five flights a day.