With the onset of the monsoon season and a sharp decline in air travelers, private airlines have announced the suspension of Pokhara–Jomsom flights for two months.
Tara Air, which had been operating regular flights on this route, has halted operations starting Asar 2 (June 16), according to Sujan Lalchan, Station In-Charge at Tara Air’s Jomsom office. He confirmed that flights will resume in the first week of September.
“Due to decreased passenger volume and adverse weather conditions, Tara Air has suspended flights temporarily. Services will resume once the tourist season picks up,” said Lalchan.
Summit Air has also announced plans to suspend its flights from Asar 20 (July 4) for the same duration. According to Suman Thakali, Station In-Charge for Summit Air in Jomsom, the decision was made as daily flights have dwindled to only one and passenger demand continues to drop.
The Jomsom Civil Aviation Office has confirmed the decline in air travel since the start of the rainy season. Office Chief Deepak Pokharel noted that Tara Air has already stopped operations, and Summit Air will follow suit soon.
The impact is not limited to air travel alone. According to Police Inspector Bishal Adhikari, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Mustang, road traffic to Jomsom has also decreased significantly with the beginning of the monsoon season.
