KATHMANDU, Feb 17: Nepal Airlines is going to conduct a test flight on the Simkot-Surkhet route on February 19.

Chiring Lama, head of Nepal Airlines Simkot Station, said that the airline, which was previously flying on the Nepalgunj-Simikot-Nepalgunj route, will conduct a test flight from Simkot to connect Surkhet, the capital of Karnali Province. He mentioned that all preparations for this have been completed.

"After the flight of Nepal Airlines to Nepalgunj-Simikot, there will be a test flight to Simkot-Surkhet on the same day," he said. Local Gorkha Rokaya said that after the Simkot-Surkhet air flight, it will be easier for residents of Humla. "Once the Simkot-Surkhet flight starts, the compulsion to go from Humla to Nepalgunj and from Nepalgunj to Surkhet will be halted," he said.

It takes 45 minutes by aircraft to reach Nepalgunj from Simkot and four hours to reach Surkhet from Nepalgunj. According to Rokaya, it will take 35 minutes to reach the provincial capital Surkhet directly if there is a regular flight.