GULMI: Resunga Airport in Gulmi has seen no commercial flights for the past three months. Air services have remained completely suspended since the third week of May. Frequent cancellations due to adverse weather conditions have forced passengers to rely solely on road transport.
Station Chief Suman Thapa stated that heavy fog during the monsoon season has made it difficult to maintain regular flight schedules. Nepal Airlines Corporation had scheduled flights three days a week on Saturdays, Sundays, and Thursdays. However, the inability to operate flights as planned has caused passengers to cancel tickets repeatedly, leading to increased financial burden and time loss. Thapa noted that as weather conditions are beginning to improve, regular services are expected to resume soon.
Nepal Airlines Corporation has been operating flights between Kathmandu and Gulmi using 18-seat Twin Otter aircraft. The fare is set at Rs 10,710 for Kathmandu to Gulmi and Rs 10,510 for the return journey. Since the airport began operations three years ago, a total of 378 two-way flights have been conducted. Thapa added that the number of passengers has also declined recently following an increase in fuel prices.
Padam Prasad Pandey, president of the Gulmi Civil Society, stated that the lack of regular air services is negatively impacting tourism in the district. While traveling from Gulmi to Kathmandu by road takes 12 to 16 hours, the flight takes only about 45 to 50 minutes. Pandey emphasized that resuming regular services would provide significant relief to patients, the elderly, and those traveling for essential work.
