Nepal's International Airport Reopening to Flights from India

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Heavy air traffic between India and Nepal was disrupted by today’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Kathmandu. Air India, IndiGo, Spicejet and Jet Airways either canceled or delayed flights after the runway at Tribhuvan International airport closed for a few hours, The Financial Express reported.

Private carrier Jet Airways canceled its Kathmandu-New Delhi-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Mumbai routes after the quake, but later operated a Kathmandu-New Delhi flight with 162 aboard.

Budget carrier IndiGo’s return to Nepal service is imminent. The carrier’s president Aditya Ghosh said to The Financial Express, “IndiGo would resume operations to Kathamandu from tomorrow morning.”  

SpiceJet canceled both daily flights to Kathmandu from Delhi today, and a decision from officials regarding resumption of services is imminent.

Contributing to the massing relief efforts, SpiceJet is offering cargo space to accredited NGOs and relief organizations who want to transport relief materials and doctors to Nepal.

Air India, the state-run carrier, is holding off until given the nod to resume by Nepalese officials. “We operate three flights to Kathmandu. While the morning flight from Delhi operated as per the schedule, the two other services, one from Delhi and another from Kolkata are on hold as of now. We will operate them as soon as we get a nod from the aviation authorities in Kathmandu,” an Air India spokesperson told The Financial Express.

The carrier will also be transporting relief materials.

Good news for travelers needing to make other arrangements: Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet are waiving ticket cancellation fees.

Kudos to @jetairways Pilots & Crew of 9w 266 to bring us safe to mumbai very well & calmly managed #NepalQuake pic.twitter.com/PYSYgomps5

— vishal gondal (@vishalgondal) April 25, 2015

We will waive off all refund/ reissue penalties on confirmed tickets issued for travel to and from Kathmandu between 25 April & 1 May, 2015

— Jet Airways (@jetairways) April 25, 2015

Kathmandu aiport shut. All our pax and staff safe. We have waived the cancellation charges on @IndiGo6E flights to KTM for a week

— Aditya Ghosh (@AdityaGhosh6E) April 25, 2015

However pax scheduled to fly to Kathmandu in next 7 days can reschedule or cancel with no fees / for full refund. #NepalEarthquake

— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) April 25, 2015

#Quake #Update We have waived cancellation & refund charges for travel till 2 May 2015, on flts to/from KTM ex DEL & CCU.

— Air India (@airindiain) April 25, 2015

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