KATHMANDU, Oct 1: There has been an increase in air passenger traffic due to the obstruction of roadways entering and exiting the federal capital, Kathmandu. Continuous rainfall on September 27 and September 28 has caused floods and landslides in various parts of the country, blocking major roadways leading to Kathmandu. With the roads blocked, the number of air passengers has surged in the past three days.
A new record has been set for air travel at the country's busiest Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). On Monday, a total of 550 flights were operated in a single day from the international airport.
Number of air passengers and flights take a nosedive after air...
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According to TIA Spokesperson Rinji Sherpa, a total of 559 flights were operated, including both domestic and international flights. He mentioned that there were 227 departures and 221 arrivals for domestic flights, including helicopters.
There were also 56 arrivals and 55 departures for international flights. Spokesperson Sherpa stated that this is likely the highest number of flights operated in a single day to date. The increased number of flights has led to a surge in air traffic.
Previously, during last year's Dashain festival, there was a similar level of flight traffic. Airport records showed around 500 flights operated daily, including both domestic and international flights. There were 113 to 115 international flights daily, while approximately 270 domestic flights facilitated the travel of 14,000 passengers.
TIA Spokesperson Sherpa mentioned that for today there are 169 scheduled arrivals and 169 departures for domestic flights. He also stated that there will be 58 departures and 57 arrivals for international flights. Additionally, there will be a significant number of helicopter rescue flights.
While the main roads have partially reopened, travel for passengers remains quite difficult due to the rain. In this situation, the only option for transportation is air travel. With a sudden increase in air traffic, passengers are facing challenges reaching their destinations. The TIA is experiencing daily crowds of travelers. On Sunday and Monday, a significant number of passengers were waiting for flights at the domestic terminal of the international airport.
