Middle East Conflict Disrupts Aviation: All International Flights from Nepal Suspended Indefinitely

All international flights departing from Nepal have been suspended indefinitely due to escalating war and rising military tensions in the Middle East. Several countries in the conflict-affected region have closed their airspace, preventing any international aircraft from departing from Tribhuvan International Airport. According to airport spokesperson Santosh Kumar Basnet, flights had to be halted as the affected airspace remains closed, and no international flights will operate from Nepal until the air routes reopen. Aircraft from multiple international airlines that were scheduled to depart are currently parked at the airport and kept on standby, ready to resume operations immediately once clearance for flight routes is received.

The ongoing conflict and heightened risk of air attacks in Middle Eastern countries including Iran, Israel, Syria, and Lebanon have severely disrupted regional airspace, affecting major aviation corridors connecting Asia with Europe and the United States. This has directly impacted Nepal’s international flight schedule, as most outbound flights rely on Middle Eastern transit routes or air corridors. While flights continue to operate normally within safer regions such as domestic US routes, intra-European, and East Asian air routes, Nepal has been unable to operate international departures due to route dependency. As a result, thousands of passengers traveling abroad for employment, education, and tourism have been stranded in Kathmandu. Airport authorities have advised passengers to stay in contact with their respective airlines and travel to the airport only after official confirmation of airspace reopening.