Passengers at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport faced heartbreak Saturday as 14 flights to Gulf cities were cancelled in the wake of Iran’s fierce response to US-Israel assaults, closing vast swaths of Middle Eastern skies.
The conflict’s aviation shockwave prompted regional nations to bar overflights, idling carriers worldwide. Nepal Airlines, Himalaya Airlines (six flights), Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, Flydubai, and Kuwait Airways all suspended operations from TIA, managed by CAAN.
Crowds jammed the airport, with families and workers eyeing boards in vain for updates. Airlines turned to digital channels: Himalaya announced, ‘Middle East airspace conditions cancel all Dubai, Dammam, Doha services. Check our platforms regularly.’
Nepal Airlines detailed the hits: Kathmandu-Dubai (RA 229/230) and Doha (RA 239) for February 28 to March 1, Dammam to follow.
Echoing earlier cautions, TIA stressed verifying flights beforehand. Teams are now syncing with partners to reschedule and accommodate the influx.
Beyond inconvenience, this severs Nepal’s Gulf lifeline—millions depend on those routes for jobs and funds. With tensions unyielding, brace for more upheaval; vigilance on airline communications is key.