Winter tourist dip halts Pokhara–Jomsom flights

KATHMANDU: Due to a decline in tourists visiting Mustang during the winter season, private airlines have suspended regular Pokhara–Jomsom flights for the next three months.

Summit Airlines and Tara Airlines, which operate regular flights, cited adverse weather, snowfall risk, and reduced tourist demand as reasons for the suspension, according to Deepak Pokharel, Chief of the Civil Aviation Office in Jomsom.

While regular flights are paused, charter and emergency helicopter services will continue.

Tara Airlines’ Mustang station in-charge, Suchan Lalchan, confirmed that flights from Pokhara to Jomsom are suspended from December 4 to March 1.

Summit Airlines has similarly halted regular flights for two months.

Strong winter winds in Mustang also affect flights on this route.

Meanwhile, improved road conditions on the Beni–Jomsom–Korala highway have further reduced the number of air passengers.