Gulmi – Air service has been suspended at Resunga Airport in Gulmi for a month. Air service in the district has been suspended for a month after two twin-otter aircraft of Nepal Airlines were grounded.

Nepal Airlines Resunga Station Chief Suman Thapa said that passengers here have been facing problems after the air service suspended.

Air service in the district came into operation after the Corporation started commercial flights in Gulmi on 29 Baisakh 2080 BS. The Corporation had been operating three times a week since it started commercial flights in the district.

Due to the increasing pressure of passengers, the Corporation had increased the number of flights at that time and was operating four times a week. After the Corporation’s aircraft started being grounded from time to time, it has now completely suspended air service in the district.

Thapa, the station chief of the airport, said that the Corporation has only a few twin-otter aircraft and the service was disrupted after the engines of the aircraft ran out.

He said that it will take some time for the service to be resume in the district as two Twin Otter aircraft have been grounded and the grounded aircraft are undergoing maintenance.

Recently, the corporation had been operating flights from Resunga Airport only once a week on Thursday. An 18-seat Twin Otter aircraft of Nepal Airlines Corporation was operating from Kathmandu at 6:30 am at Resunga Airport in Gulmi and from Resunga Airport at 7:30 am.

The corporation has fixed the fare at 7,500 for Resunga from Kathmandu and 7,300 for Resunga to Kathmandu.

The airport office has stated that flights are being operated only in the morning due to high air pressure during the day.

90 one-way flights have been operated from here to Kathmandu in the past 21 months. So far, 2,253 passengers have taken air services from both directions, informed Station Chief Thapa.

With the start of air services in the recent past, the number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting the district has also increased.

Thapa said that despite the high demand for air services, the corporation has not been able to operate regular services due to a shortage of aircraft.