Kathmandu: In a significant move to enhance air connectivity between Nepal and China, Himalaya Airlines has officially commenced its Kathmandu-Lhasa-Kathmandu flight route. The inaugural flight took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 8:40 AM on Thursday, carrying 136 passengers on board.
The launch event was graced by the presence of Sudan Kiranti, the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, who arrived at TIA to mark the commencement of the new flight. The aircraft is scheduled to touch down at Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 12:00 AM local time, with a flight duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Himalaya Airlines has announced that it will operate the Kathmandu-Lhasa-Kathmandu route every Monday, starting from January 1.
This latest addition marks Himalaya Airlines’ fifth flight destination to a Chinese city, adding to its existing services to Beijing, Chongqing, Qingdao, and Shanghai. The airline aims to bolster connectivity between the two nations, contributing to the promotion of bilateral relations.
Bijay Shrestha, the Vice President of Himalaya Airlines, expressed the company’s commitment to further expanding its presence in China. Shrestha highlighted the airline’s goal of flying to 10 different tourist destinations in China and attracting one million tourists to Nepal annually. Himalaya Airlines continues to play a pivotal role in facilitating travel and fostering stronger ties between Nepal and China.