New Delhi : Air India on Tuesday announced the cancellation of four flights operating between Delhi and Kathmandu as Nepal continues to reel under massive anti-government protests that have disrupted normal life in the Himalayan nation.
According to officials, the cancellations affected flight numbers AI2231/2232, AI2219/2220, AI217/218 and AI211/212. Air India, which normally operates six daily flights between the two capitals, said the move was taken in view of the prevailing security and operational concerns in Kathmandu.
The situation at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport further intensified when one Air India aircraft, during its final approach, noticed smoke near the runway area and had to return to Delhi as a precautionary measure. This incident added to the uncertainty for airlines and passengers scheduled to travel on the route.
Private carrier IndiGo and the state-run Nepal Airlines also suspended their services between Delhi and Kathmandu on Tuesday, citing the temporary closure of the airport.
In a statement, Air India said:
“In view of the current situation prevailing in Kathmandu, the following flights have been cancelled today. We are closely monitoring developments and will share further updates.”
Meanwhile, the political turmoil in Nepal escalated on Tuesday with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigning amid large-scale protests against his government. The demonstrations, which have led to violent clashes in several parts of the country, forced the authorities to impose security restrictions, severely affecting both domestic and international travel.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi has advised Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Nepal until the situation stabilizes.
