Passenger traffic is high in Pokhara-Jomsom air flight

Gandaki, Oct 8: Passenger traffic on the Pokhara-Jomsom air route has surged following the blockage of the road connecting Mustang to Beni in Myagdi due to flooding.

Jomsom Airport’s head, Bishwanath Sharma, noted that the limited number of flights has made it challenging to accommodate the increased passenger demand. Currently, Twin Otter aircraft operated by Tara and Summit Air have increased their flights from five to seven times daily to meet this demand.

The ongoing tourist season has further contributed to the rise in air travel, particularly as many tourists are visiting Mustang during the Sohra Shraddha (Pitri Paksha or Mahalaya).

The Sohra Shraddha is a 16-day Hindu ritual period dedicated to honoring and remembering deceased ancestors, pilgrims from Nepal and India are also traveling to Kagbeni for the rituals, adding to the passenger volume.

The airline prioritizes the transportation of sick and disabled individuals, with local authorities assisting in facilitating their travel alongside foreign tourists. Sharma indicated that once the road is reopened, passenger traffic is expected to decline, easing the pressure on air travel.

Binod Singh Rawat, an information officer at Pokhara International Airport, highlighted that most flights occur in the morning due to strong winds in the afternoon at Jomsom Airport, which limits operational flexibility. —