Kathmandu (RSS): Mountain flight is considered to be a very attractive for viewing the beautiful and picturesque mountain range including the highest peak, Mount Everest. Domestic and foreign travelers are eager to fly in the mountains. Even with favorable weather, the attraction of mountain flying is increasing.
Especially autumn is considered suitable for mountain flights. The mountain flight of the country, which was closed due to Covid-19 pandemic, has started from today. Buddha Air, a leading private airline, has started flying in the mountains about eight months after the shutdown.
Buddha Air has started flying for the first time in the midst of the Covid Pandemic. Rupesh Joshi, market director of Buddha Air, informed that the mountain flight has been launched from today with the objective of promoting domestic tourism.
As reported by Rashtriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), There were 18 Nepali passengers on the first flight today. Although there is attraction of both foreigners and Nepalis in mountain flights, there is no activity of foreign tourists so far. Earlier, Buddha had conducted its last mountain flight on March 17, 2020. After that, the flight had been halted in Nepal due to the embargo imposed on the country and the recent ban.
Domestic flights were operational from 5 September and international regular flights were started from 16 September.
Director Joshi said that Buddha will operate mountain flights with attractive discounts and offers to attract domestic tourists. As per him the airline will operate mountain flights every Saturday.
Autumn is considered to be the best time for sightseeing and trekking. If the situation were normal now, the mountain flights would be crowded. But the situation is unfavorable. There was also competition among airlines in mountain flights. Small aircraft and helicopters also flew in the mountains.
The mountain flight takes one hour from Kathmandu. The flight starts from Tribhuvan International Airport, passes through Ganesh Himal, Sagarmatha, reaches near Kanchenjunga Himal and lands at Kathmandu again. Domestic and foreign tourists are eager to see the beautiful view of the Mahabharata mountain range along with the high mountains.
Before the ban on mountain flights, Nepalis and Indians were charged Rs 8,825 and citizens of other countries were charged $197. Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Simrik Airlines have been operating mountain flights. According to the Airline Operators Association of Nepal, 19 airlines, including 10 helicopter companies, are currently operating domestic flights.