Pokhara, 25 December| Private airline companies have suspended the Pokhara-Jomsom flight services for three months following a sharp decline in the number of tourists visiting Mustang during the winter season. The prominent domestic carriers, Summit Air and Tara Air, which operate regular flights on this route, decided to halt their operations citing adverse weather conditions, potential snowfall, and the arrival of the tourism off-season. According to Deepak Pokharel, the chief of Jomsom Civil Aviation Office, while regular commercial flights have been suspended, chartered flights and emergency helicopter services will continue to remain operational to cater to urgent needs. Tara Air has officially stopped its flights from December 4 until March 1, while Summit Air has announced a two-month suspension of its regular schedule.
Technical difficulties caused by strong winds and unpredictable weather patterns in the Mustang region during the winter months often make flying through the narrow mountain passes risky and inconsistent. Beyond meteorological challenges, the increasing accessibility of road transport has also significantly impacted the demand for air travel. With the improvement of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road, more travelers are opting for overland journeys instead of flights, leading to a steady decrease in airline passenger numbers. The ease of road travel combined with the extreme cold has made it economically unviable for airlines to maintain a regular schedule during this period. Consequently, regular air connectivity to the Himalayan district is expected to resume only after the onset of the spring season in March.
