Jomsom-Pokhara Flight Service Resumes After Three-Month Hiatus

The long-awaited Jomsom-Pokhara flight service has finally resumed operations after a hiatus of around three months.

The vital air link between Pokhara, the provincial headquarters of Gandaki, and Jomsom, a bustling tourism hub in Mustang, was disrupted since November 2023 due to adverse weather conditions.

Announcing the resumption, Hiron Shah, Chief of Jomsom Airport, revealed that Summit Airlines, which suspended its air service on December 6 last year, commenced passenger boarding on March 1 (Friday). Additionally, Tara Airlines, which halted its service since November 26, has also made preparations to resume Jomsom-Pokhara flights.

“The Pokhara-Jomsom flight service has been brought back into operation with the improvement in weather conditions and the onset of the tourist-friendly season,” Shah remarked, highlighting the two flights conducted by Summit Airlines on Friday.

The reinstatement of the flight service comes as a relief to locals, pilgrims, and tourists, particularly amid ongoing upgrades to the Beni-Jomsom road stretch in the Myagdi section. The reopening is expected to facilitate easier access for visitors to Mustang, potentially leading to an increase in tourist footfall.

According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in Jomsom, a total of 91,000 foreign tourists visited Mustang in 2023, underscoring the region’s significance as a tourist destination.

Meanwhile, Rajkumar Thapa, Chief of the District Traffic Police Office, noted a gradual increase in vehicular traffic heading towards Mustang through the Beni-Jomsom road in recent days, attributed to the rising temperatures.