Kathmandu airport shut by dense fog; flights delayed
Airport authorities estimate that reopening could take some time.
KATHMANDU: Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu has been closed since 7:20 AM on Wednesday due to dense fog, with visibility remaining extremely low.
Airport authorities estimate that reopening could take some time.
As of 9:30 AM, visibility was just 500 meters.
Aircraft approaching the RNPR system require a minimum visibility of 1,100 meters, while planes using the VOR-DME system need at least 1,600 meters.
Takeoff from Kathmandu also requires a minimum of 1,200 meters visibility.
Several international flights bound for Kathmandu are currently holding in the skies.
These include Nepal Airlines’ wide-body flight from Doha, two narrow-body flights from Dubai and Doha operated by Himalaya Airlines, a narrow-body flight from Bhutan’s Druk Air, and a wide-body Qatar Airways flight from Doha.
Domestic flights are also affected. Buddha Air reported delays or disruptions for flights to Biratnagar, Rajbiraj, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Surkhet, and Tulsipur airports.
The airport has advised passengers to contact their airlines in advance for updates before traveling.
