Pokhara-Jomsom regular flights suspended

Private airlines have suspended regular flights on the air route between Pokhara and Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang.

According to Bishwaraj Sharma, chief of the Civil Aviation Office in Jomsom, Tara Airlines halted its regular flights last week and Summit Airlines stopped from Monday. Both private carriers have been operating 18-seater aircraft on this route during two seasons each year.

Previously, regular flights ran from August through November, but this year services have stopped before the tourist season ended. According to chief Sharma, one of Tara Air's three aircraft is currently under maintenance. One of Summit Air's four aircraft is also being prepared to be taken for maintenance.

Suman Thakali, Summit Airlines' station in-charge in Jomsom, cited the devastating floods in Rasuwa and road blockages caused by floods and landslides in various parts of the country as reasons behind the drop in air passengers.