After 17 days of disruption due to heavy rain and thick fog, flights have finally resumed at Phaplu Airport in Solukhumbu. On Wednesday, a Twin Otter aircraft of Nepal Airlines successfully flew from Kathmandu to Phaplu and returned, carrying 12 passengers to Phaplu and 10 on the return trip, according to senior officer Ayush Thapa from the Civil Aviation Authority.
The long flight suspension had severe impacts. Many seriously ill patients who needed urgent treatment in Kathmandu were stranded. With no flights available, families had to send patients by road for hours to reach hospitals in Okhaldhunga or Biratnagar. Locals like Padam Shrestha and Pemba Sherpa shared the pain of not being able to airlift critical patients during this period.
Phaplu is also an important alternative route to Lukla, the main gateway to Everest. Due to uncertain flight conditions, many tourists have had to cancel or change their trekking plans. Transport operator Mingmar Sherpa explained that visitors planning to reach Lukla through Phaplu are now reconsidering their options.
Despite having a weekly schedule of flights—on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday—Nepal Airlines often cancels these services due to unstable weather and technical issues. The Twin Otter aircraft available for Phaplu is limited, and flights operate on only about 10 to 12 days per month on average.
Private airlines have avoided scheduling regular flights to Phaplu due to inconsistent weather and low passenger numbers. Currently, Phaplu to Kathmandu by road is nearly 275 kilometers, but the route remains unsafe and unsuitable, especially with landslide risks along BP Highway in Sindhuli and Khurkot.
Residents like Bimala Rai say traveling by road feels like torture, especially for the sick. With no stable air service, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with medical emergencies are facing serious problems.
District officials and local representatives have urged the government to address this issue. Chief District Officer Anoj Kumar Ghimire said that while weather problems can’t be avoided, they are coordinating with the Nepal Army and private airlines to explore helicopter alternatives during emergencies.
