New record in air travel: 559 flights operated in single day

Kathmandu, Oct 1: Flow of air passengers has increased following the obstruction of roadways leading to and from the federal capital.

The landslide and flood occurred on September 27 and 28 due to incessant rainfall have blocked the main highways leading to Kathmandu. Following the road obstruction, number of air passengers has surged since three days. A new record of air travel has been set at Tribhuvan International Airport.

A total of 559 flights—domestic and international – were operated at TIA on Monday alone, said TIA Spokesperson, Rinji Sherpa. Towards domestic flights, there were 227 departures (including helicopter) and 221 arrivals, said Sherpa. Similarly, there were 56 arrivals and 55 departures of international flights.

Spokesperson Sherpa added probably it might be the highest number of flights operated on a single day. Last year, there was also such type of flight pressure during the festival season. Five hundred flights were operated daily towards domestic and international. A flight schedule of 169 arrival and 169 departure flights towards domestic has been determined for today while there would be 58 departures and 57 arrivals towards international flights today, said Sherpa.

Likewise, a high number of rescue flights of helicopter have been operated. Air service is the only alternative means of travel during the obstruction of roadways. —RSS