New Delhi, Sept 10: Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo have announced special flight operations to Kathmandu to assist passengers stranded due to the ongoing unrest in Nepal, with regular services set to resume from Thursday. The move comes after Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu confirmed that the government had coordinated additional flights to facilitate the return of affected passengers.
Air India’s Special Operations
National carrier Air India said it has pressed special flights into service between Delhi and Kathmandu on Wednesday and Thursday. The airline confirmed that its normal scheduled operations will also restart from Thursday.
“Air India is operating special flights today and tomorrow from Delhi to Kathmandu and back to help passengers who have been stranded due to the recent developments in Nepal. Our scheduled operations will also resume from tomorrow,” the airline said in a statement posted on X.
https://x.com/airindia/status/1965795948736741826
The airline thanked the government and other agencies for swiftly coordinating the arrangements “in the interest of passengers.”
To facilitate communication, Air India has issued a helpline number and urged passengers to confirm the status of their flights before heading to the airport. Passengers can check real-time status at https://airindia.com/in/en/manage/flight-status.html or call the 24×7 helpline numbers 011-69329333 / 011-69329999.
IndiGo’s Relief Measures
Private carrier IndiGo has also announced steps to assist stranded passengers, confirming that it will resume four daily scheduled flights to and from Kathmandu from September 11. Additionally, it will operate two relief flights on the same day, subject to regulatory approvals.
https://x.com/IndiGo6E/status/1965818916334350547
“In these extraordinary times in #Kathmandu, our priority is to reunite you with your loved ones. Starting September 11, IndiGo shall resume 04 daily scheduled flights to and from Kathmandu. In addition, subject to regulatory approvals, two special relief flights will operate the same day, dedicated to bringing our customers home safely,” the airline said in a statement.
IndiGo also announced that these relief flights would be offered at special fares, ensuring that passengers are not burdened by higher ticket costs during the crisis.
Government Coordination
The announcements by the airlines followed a statement from Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, who confirmed that special arrangements had been made to bring back stranded passengers.
“Due to airport closure in Nepal, many home-bound passengers were unable to return from Kathmandu. With the opening of the airport operation in Kathmandu, @MoCA_GoI, in coordination with Air India & IndiGo, has arranged additional flights this evening & over the next few days, alongside scheduled services resuming tomorrow,” Naidu wrote on X.
The minister assured that the government was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with airlines to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens and other travelers.
Context and Impact
Flights to and from Kathmandu were severely disrupted earlier this week after unrest and security concerns led to temporary airport closure, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in both India and Nepal. With the gradual restoration of airport operations, Indian carriers have stepped in to bridge the gap and prioritize the evacuation of affected travelers.
For many passengers, the announcements brought relief after days of uncertainty. Both carriers said their staff have been instructed to assist passengers on priority and ensure smooth processing of bookings and rebookings.
With regular services scheduled to resume on September 11, officials expect flight operations between India and Nepal to stabilize in the coming days, restoring critical connectivity between the two countries.
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