Nepal Airlines Launches Special Flights from UAE and Saudi Arabia to Repatriate Nepalis Amid Iran Conflict
Image source, STRINGER/EPA/Shutterstock
Following the outbreak of war in Iran, the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation announced the launch of special flights to Dubai and Dammam starting Friday.
Regular flights had been suspended since February 28 due to escalating tensions in the Gulf region. The corporation is now set to operate special flights to one location each in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
According to the airline spokesperson Archana Khadka, the first flight will depart Kathmandu for Dubai at 11:15 pm on Friday. The plane will return from Dubai to Kathmandu at 4:10 am local time on Saturday.
Similarly, a flight will operate from Kathmandu to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, at 8:30 am on Sunday, with the return trip scheduled for 12:20 pm the same day.
Due to the recent events in the Gulf countries, many Nepalis have been unable to return home. In this context, the airline has arranged these special flights to facilitate passengers.
Passengers and Remains Also Being Repatriated
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri stated that the special flights are being organized through the initiative and active involvement of Foreign Minister Khanal.
“With regular flights suspended and other airlines also not operating, we requested Nepal Airlines to conduct these special flights, and this request has been fulfilled,” he said.
“For now, we plan to operate two round-trip special flights,” added Paudel Kshetri.
Officials from the Foreign Ministry have not disclosed how many Nepalis will be repatriated through these special flights.
“Some Nepalis have made contact, and arrangements have been made to bring back the remains of deceased Nepalis as well, though these deaths are unrelated to the current conflict,” he added.
Nepal Airlines has not provided details on the number of passengers expected from these flights.
“Flights will operate at full capacity,” said airline spokesperson Archana Khadka.
Due to difficulties and high costs involved in storing bodies in Gulf countries, a decision has been made to bring some of the remains back to Nepal.
“Given the current challenging conditions, there are issues with morgue storage and high expenses,” one official explained.
Since the formation of the new government, families of the deceased have been urging for the repatriation of bodies.
“More than a dozen bodies are expected to be flown in repeatedly from Dubai, and some from Dammam as well,” the official added.
Statements from Airline Officials
Image source, RSS
According to a notice issued by Nepal Airlines, flights to Doha, Dubai, and Dammam are canceled until April 7 due to tensions in West Asia and airport closures.
The corporation is closely monitoring the situation in West Asia and regularly updating flight information, urging passengers to stay informed.
Two days ago, a Kuwait Airways plane landed at Gautam Buddha International Airport carrying 291 passengers and nine bodies.
The Foreign Ministry clarified that the deaths of those repatriated are unrelated to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf.
Spokesperson Khadka confirmed that these special flights are being operated at the request of the Foreign Ministry.
“Today [Friday] the flight is departing for Dubai and returning tomorrow. On April 5, the flight will go to Dammam and return to Nepal the same day,” she stated.
This will be Nepal Airlines’ first flight to Dammam, while four flights have already been conducted to Dubai, Khadka added.
“Safety is our top priority, and additional flights will be arranged if necessary,” she emphasized.
Following attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, Tehran has launched assaults on US military facilities in the Gulf region.
As a result, regular international flights have been disrupted and airfare has become extremely expensive, according to service users.
“With airfare doubling or tripling, some Nepalis wishing to return have been unable to do so,” said a Nepali working in Dubai last week.
