After a week of flight cancellations due to adverse weather, 1,155 tourists landed at Lukla Airport on Monday as weather cleared. These tourists, previously stranded in Manthali, Ramechhap, and Kathmandu, were flown to Lukla following the resumption of flights.
According to Umesh Panthi, chief of Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air operated 47 flights on Monday, while helicopters from various companies conducted 130 flights to bring tourists to the mountain region.
“The weather cleared in the morning, allowing continuous flights until 2:30 pm,” Panthi said. “Flight pressure has significantly increased after a long halt, and the airport is now returning to regular operations.”
Deputy Superintendent of Police Dwarika Prasad Ghimire stated that Tara Air, Sita Air, and Summit Air operated a total of 47 flights, while helicopters completed 130 flights. “In total, 575 tourists arrived by planes and 580 by helicopters and all stranded tourists in Manthali have been evacuated,” he said.
Although there were plans to use Nepal Army choppers for rescue, none were used. Instead, private airlines operated the rescue flights.
Approximately 550 tourists who had been stuck in Lukla due to bad weather have returned to Manthali. Nima Sherpa, director of Tip & Top Trekking, stated that with over 1,100 tourists arriving in the Khumbu region in a single day, the local markets have seen a surge of tourism activities.
