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With a high number of travelers heading to the Everest region every year, especially during peak season, news often circulates among travelers and trekking agencies: airport congestion (and bad weather) disrupts flights to Lukla from Kathmandu.
In recent years, flights to and from Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla have been diverted to Ramechhap Airport due to high traffic and unfavorable weather conditions. As a result, hundreds of tourists must travel by bus to Ramechhap and catch a 15-20-minute flight to Lukla from the Ramechhap airport.
In October 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal stated that the time frame from April 1st to May 30th and from October 1st to November 30th constitutes the peak season. Consequently, flights from Kathmandu to Lukla will not be operational during these periods. In a bid to manage/reduce traffic congestion, regular flights to Lukla from Kathmandu are often rerouted to Manthali Airport in Ramechhap.
This has been a major concern for many trekkers as they have to travel by bus or jeep for 3 to 4 hours, the only viable option for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp.
The Ramechhap airport is the closest airport to Kathmandu and the best alternative to the Lukla flight. This airport is approximately 140 km from Kathmandu, and the flight to Lukla is only 15-20 minutes. The airport has undergone several upgrades and renovations to improve its facilities and enhance its capacity to handle more flights and passengers.
According to the Ramechhap Airport Wikipedia page, during peak season in 2019, the airport served 24 daily flights. It is estimated that during peak season, the airport operates at its maximum capacity, around 120 daily flights. This high number of flights often leads to overcrowding, long wait times, and delays. As a result, many trekkers have expressed concerns about the safety and reliability of flights from Ramechhap to Lukla.
You will need to travel by bus to and from Ramechhap. This means that instead of going to Kathmandu airport on Day 2 of your itinerary, you will take a bus to Ramechhap. You must get up early that morning, possibly at 2 a.m. Your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you on a trip to Ramechhap.
The bus journey to and from Kathmandu will take approximately 4-5 hours, but this can change depending on traffic. You will arrive in Ramechhap early to catch your flight to Lukla.
If you’re trekking with us, your itinerary and trekking schedule will remain the same; the only difference is the inconvenience of the bus journey to and from Ramechhap.
Ramechhap airport, the closest airport to Kathmandu, is considered the best option for a Lukla flight, and for good reasons. As it sits at a lower altitude than Kathmandu, the flights are less likely to be affected by weather conditions. In addition, Ramechhap airport is closer to Lukla, taking around 15-20 minutes to and from Lukla.
In recent years, several airlines, including Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air, have started operating direct flights to Lukla from Ramechhap. These airlines offer reliable and safe regular flights to Lukla, making it a more popular choice among trekkers and adventurers heading to the Everest region.
In the event that your flights are canceled from Ramechhap, your guide or, say, the travel agency will try to reschedule your flight as soon as possible (the same day). But you will likely have to stay the night in Ramechhap. In such cases, your guide will arrange your accommodation and meals until your flight is operational.
Please note that flight cancellations are common due to the weather conditions in the region, so it’s best to be mentally prepared for any unforeseen delays or changes to your itinerary. The worst you can expect is to trek to Lukla instead of flying, adding several days to your itinerary. Or, you can pay around $500 and hop on a helicopter from Ramechhap to Lukla.
It’s difficult to predict how long the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) will continue to divert flights from Kathmandu to Ramechhap for flights to Lukla. However, given the ongoing challenges and congestion at Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla, flights from Ramechhap will likely continue to be a viable option for the foreseeable future.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) constantly monitors the situation and makes necessary changes to ensure the safety and convenience of travelers. In 2019, all flights to Lukla were operated from Ramechhap Airport.
In 2022, the CAAN decided to operate from Ramechhap Airport instead of Kathmandu again due to various reasons, such as high traffic, unfavorable weather conditions, and airport congestion.
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