KATHMANDU: High above Nepal’s rugged Himalayas, helicopters hum tirelessly—carrying climbers, ferrying pilgrims, conducting rescues, and linking remote communities where roads often end before the journey begins.

This vital industry is not only a pillar of Nepal’s tourism and emergency response systems but a lifeline for millions living in mountainous regions.

Today, twelve helicopter companies operate across the country, managing a fleet of more than 40 aircraft. These operators transport between 75,000 and 100,000 passengers annually, encompassing international tourists, local travelers, medical evacuations, cargo runs, and government missions.

But the sector now faces a pivotal moment: expanding demand meets growing regulatory scrutiny, financial challenges, and environmental concerns.

Nepal’s Leading Helicopter Operators: Who’s Flying the Skies?

Nepal’s helicopter industry consists of a mix of established and emerging operators, each carving out specialized roles in a competitive market. The major companies currently operating include:

• Manang Air
  Operating since 1997, Manang Air’s Eurocopter AS350 B3e helicopters serve mountain sightseeing, rescue missions, and pilgrim transport. It is known for flights to Everest Base Camp and Kailash Mansarovar.
• Fishtail Air
  A pioneer in high-altitude flying, Fishtail Air’s Airbus helicopters conduct medical evacuations, cargo deliveries, and sightseeing tours in regions like Dolpa, Mustang, and Mugu.
• Shree Airlines
  With a history in rotary-wing UN missions, Shree Airlines operates MI-17 helicopters for rescue, cargo, and passenger transport. It also runs fixed-wing services but maintains a significant helicopter division. Its focus is on Annapurna Base Camp Heli Tour, Muktinath Heli Tour, Everest Base Camp Heli Tour, and Langtang Valley Heli Tour and more.
• Simrik Air
  Using AS350 B3e and Bell 407 helicopters, Simrik Air provides pilgrimage flights, medical evacuations, rescue operations, and VIP charters, primarily in eastern Nepal.
• Air Dynasty Heli Services
  One of Nepal’s oldest private heli-operators, Air Dynasty operates Airbus H125 helicopters. It services mountaineers, medical teams, and disaster relief missions. Its helicopters were notably used during Prince Harry’s 2016 visit.
• Mountain Helicopters
  Based in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Mountain Helicopters flies tourists for Himalayan sightseeing and emergency evacuations, with a fleet focused on high-altitude performance.
• Prabhu Helicopter
  Operating Robinson R66 and AS350 helicopters, Prabhu Helicopter provides affordable mountain flights, medical evacuations, and NGO support, with bases in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
• Heli Everest
  Specialized in rescue operations, Heli Everest’s AS350 and H125 helicopters perform oxygen-equipped medevacs and regular flights in Everest and Annapurna regions.
• Altitude Air
  Altitude Air’s AS350 B3e fleet offers VIP charters, aerial photography, and search-and-rescue services, extending operations beyond Nepal to government contracts.
• Mustang Helicopter
  A newer company based in Pokhara, Mustang Helicopter offers sightseeing and charter flights near Mustang, Manang, and Annapurna Circuit.
• Annapurna Helicopter
  Focused on medical evacuation and Annapurna area tourism, Annapurna Helicopter operates AS350 helicopters with a reputation for safety and rapid response.
• Kailash Helicopter
  Offering short- and long-range charters, Kailash Helicopter supports medevacs and government logistics, particularly in Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces.

These companies collectively carry 75,000 to 100,000 passengers annually, balancing tourism, rescue, cargo, and VIP flights.

Their fleets consist mainly of the Airbus H125 (AS350 B3e), Bell 407 GXP, Bell 206L LongRanger, and Robinson R66, among others.

New Entrants in Helicopter Business

• Sagarmatha Air is a recently registered company in Nepal, aiming to operate helicopters, with a focus on the aviation sector. It has secured a Rs 840 million investment and is in the process of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
• Sumedha Air is a newly licensed helicopter operator in Nepal, is launching its corporate headquarters at Durbarmarg, Kathmandu. Sumedha Air plans to induct three Airbus H125 helicopters within a year of receiving its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

Types of Helicopter Flights: From Everest Sightseeing to Emergency Rescue

Nepal’s helicopter operations can be grouped into four broad categories:

• Tourism and Sightseeing: Helicopters ferry tourists on Everest Base Camp tours, Annapurna Circuit flights, and sacred pilgrimages to Muktinath and Pathibhara. Peak season flights number as many as 20 daily over Everest, with round trips lasting 3–4 hours. Everest sightseeing flights alone account for a significant portion of passenger volume.
• Medical Evacuations (Medevac): Helicopters are often the only way to swiftly evacuate injured or ill people from remote districts like Dolpa, Humla, Bajhang, and Gorkha, particularly during monsoons when roads are impassable. Operators like Simrik Air, Fishtail Air, and Air Dynasty maintain oxygen-equipped medevac helicopters for high-altitude rescues.
• Rescue and Disaster Response: Following earthquakes, landslides, and floods, helicopters transport relief materials, rescue teams, and displaced villagers. The 2015 earthquake alone saw over 2,200 rescue sorties flown by helicopters, underlining their critical role in disaster response.
• Cargo and VIP Transport: Helicopters deliver goods, construction materials, and equipment to remote areas, often using external sling loads. VIP charters carry government officials, foreign dignitaries, and business executives.

Passenger Volumes and Seasonal Peaks

Annually, Nepal’s helicopters transport 75,000 to 100,000 passengers:

• Approximately 40,000 are international tourists using sightseeing and trekking transfers.
• Around 20,000 domestic passengers include pilgrims, officials, and media.
• About 15,000 are medical evacuation patients and accompanying medical staff.
• Nearly 10,000 passengers are associated with cargo and logistics flights.

Passenger numbers peak in March–May and September–November, corresponding to the spring and autumn trekking seasons when weather conditions are optimal.

Most helicopter operations originate from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport heliport and Pokhara International Airport, with regional hubs in Nepalgunj, Surkhet, and Biratnagar facilitating quicker responses and reducing ferry times.

Flight Identification and Air Traffic Management

Unlike fixed-wing commercial airlines, Nepal’s helicopter flights generally lack standardized flight numbers. Instead, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) issues Temporary Flight Clearances (TFCs) for each flight, which serve as unique identifiers.

For instance, Air Dynasty’s Everest Base Camp flights may be logged as “ADH-EBC-001” through “ADH-EBC-020” during peak seasons. Simrik Air and Manang Air similarly designate their missions with flight codes to streamline air traffic control and emergency response coordination.

Challenges: Safety, Regulation, and Financial Sustainability

Safety Risks and Accident History

Nepal’s challenging geography and volatile weather contribute to helicopter risks. Since 2018, there have been at least six fatal crashes, including:

• The 2019 Air Dynasty crash in Taplejung that killed Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari.
• The 2023 Heli Everest crash near Lukla in poor visibility.
• The 2024 Mountain Helicopter accident in Rasuwa, which destroyed the aircraft though crew survived.

Causes often involve sudden weather shifts, terrain awareness difficulties, and occasional pilot pressure to fly in marginal conditions. These incidents have prompted CAAN to mandate installation of Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) and tighten pilot visibility minimums.

Regulatory Oversight and Industry Transparency

CAAN regulates safety and airworthiness but faces criticism for inconsistent enforcement and lack of an independent accident investigation board. Many investigations are internally handled with limited transparency, affecting public trust.

Pilots report operational pressures during high-demand seasons, and allegations of insurance fraud and staged rescue flights have marred the sector’s reputation.

Financial and Operational Realities

Helicopter operations are costly, with significant fixed expenses:

• Pilot and engineer salaries
• Maintenance and spare parts, often imported with delays and tariffs
• Insurance premiums up to $100,000 per aircraft annually
• Fuel and logistics, especially for remote airstrips

Tourism flights are the most lucrative, with Everest sightseeing costing up to $5,000 per charter, and group flights to EBC priced at $1,200–$1,800 per passenger. Medevac and rescue flights command premium pricing, often negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Smaller operators like Prabhu Helicopter and Kailash Helicopter struggle with limited fleets and underutilized routes, threatening financial viability.

Environmental and Community Impacts

Noise pollution and emissions from frequent helicopter flights affect fragile ecosystems and local communities, particularly in the Everest region.

In 2025, the Khumbu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu banned non-rescue helicopter flights over Everest to protect the environment.

Operators like Simrik Air, Air Dynasty, and Altitude Air participate in carbon offset programs and explore fuel-efficient aircraft.

Community engagement initiatives, including training local rescue volunteers and improving landing zones, are increasingly common.

Government Policies and Industry Consolidation

CAAN’s new policy requires operators to have at least NPR 500 million in paid-up capital before obtaining an Airline Operator Certificate. This aims to consolidate the market by eliminating undercapitalized firms and encouraging efficiency.

New entrants like Sumedha Air and Sagarmatha Air will intensify competition, driving modernization through investments in GPS navigation, regional maintenance hubs, and advanced pilot training.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Growth and Safety

Nepal’s helicopter industry is at a crossroads. With growing demand driven by tourism, disaster response, and infrastructure needs, the sector must balance rapid growth with enhanced safety standards, better regulation, and environmental stewardship.

For the 75,000 to 100,000 passengers who take to the skies annually, the promise of swift connection must be matched by a commitment to sustainability and risk reduction.

 As Nepal’s roads remain vulnerable to nature’s whims, its helicopters remain indispensable—a lifeline that connects the nation, no matter the terrain.