NEPALGUNJ: Buddha Air has temporarily suspended its direct Nepalgunj–Pokhara flight service, which had been operating for nearly five years.

According to Buddha Air Nepalgunj station chief Binit Bikram Shah, the suspension has been caused by a decline in Indian religious tourists and rising fuel costs.

He said that the one-month-long “Malmas” (intercalary month) period reduced the number of Indian pilgrims visiting Nepal, while increased fuel prices further made the route financially unsustainable.

The direct flight, which had been operating three times a week since August 11, 2021, to promote tourism and facilitate Indian travellers, was halted from Tuesday.

Following the suspension, passengers from western Nepal, tourism entrepreneurs, and the general public have expressed disappointment. Travellers will now have to rely on road transport, which takes at least 14 hours.

The service was initially launched through the initiative of the Nepalgunj chapter of the Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA).

NATTA Nepalgunj founding president Shriram Sigdel said the airline’s decision to stop regular flights has made the service uncertain, adding that a government-supported initiative led by the private sector has failed due to lack of state intervention.

The 35-minute flight between Nepalgunj and Pokhara had significantly boosted tourism connectivity, making access easier to destinations such as Bardiya National Park, Karnali Chisapani, and Rara, as well as improving travel links for tourists arriving from Indian cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, and Delhi.

At launch, fares ranged from Rs 4,935 to Rs 7,635. The airline had also planned to expand the service to daily flights as demand increased.

Buddha Air stated that rising fuel prices and declining passenger demand after fare adjustments forced the suspension.