May 18, Gulmi – Air flights from Resunga Airport in Gulmi will be operated four times a week starting today. Nepal Airlines Corporation has announced the flight schedule from Kathmandu to Gulmi on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Previously, flights were regularly operated only on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Station chief Suman Thapa of Resunga stated that the additional flight schedule was introduced following the maintenance of the Twin Otter aircraft used for domestic flights.
According to him, the introduction of the new schedule has also resulted in fare increases. The rise in petroleum product prices has led to a hike in airfares between Resunga and Kathmandu, Thapa explained. The new fares are set at NPR 10,902 from Kathmandu to Resunga and NPR 10,702 from Resunga to Kathmandu. Previously, the fares were NPR 7,500 from Kathmandu to Resunga and NPR 7,300 from Gulmi to Kathmandu.
The fare increase of NPR 3,402 is mainly due to higher passenger demand recently and petroleum price hikes, he added. Except for periods of rainy weather and adverse conditions, regular flights have been operating at Resunga Airport for the past five months. The Corporation operates Kathmandu–Resunga services using an 18-seat Twin Otter aircraft.
Since the commencement of air service in Gulmi, the number of both domestic and international tourists visiting the district has been increasing. Passengers have noted that the land route journey, which usually takes around 16 to 18 hours, has become largely free of cost. With the start of air services, travel time between Gulmi and the capital can now be covered in just 45 to 50 minutes. Nepal Airlines Corporation began commercial air operations in Gulmi starting from Bikram Sambat 2080, Vaishakh 29.
