As the usual upcoming season, Lukla Flights Diverted to Ramechhap. the Lukla flight will be flying from Ramechhap, according to a notice issued by the Nepal Aviation Authority, which can often be delayed on the runway due to air traffic in the Kathmandu terminal.
all trekking operations to and from Lukla flights from Kathmandu will be diverted to Manthali airport in the Ramechhap district. So currently, trekkers will have to take the flight to and from the local airport at Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu.
Ramechhap is a modest little town with a small airstrip about 140 km (85 miles) from Kathmandu with very little to no tourist infrastructure. The drive to the airport from Kathmandu takes about 4 – 5 hours. However, the return could take a little more time, from 5 to 8 hours, depending on traffic. Regardless of the airline or the tour company you choose, these diversions will impact all the trekkers. Whosoever takes the Lukla flight to the Everest Region.
When you have booked a trip with us, Happyland Treks, one of our team members will update you about the flight situation from ktm to Lukla directly, or divert Flights from Ramechhap to Lukla.
Table of Contents
- What time will we depart from Ramechhap to Lukla?
- How to plan your trip with the Lukla Flights Diverted to Ramechhap?
- How to avoid the Lukla flight diverting to the Ramechhap situation?
- Are there any current flights directly from Kathmandu to Lukla?
- Why is Ramechhap a decent option for flights?
- How long will these diversions to Ramechhap be taking place?
What time will we depart from Ramechhap to Lukla?
Generally, we will leave the hotel in Kathmandu at around 2 or 2:30 am. The exact time of leaving the hotel makes its way to the briefing before the trek. the plane to Lukla will take off from Ramechhap around the morning at 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, and more flights.
How to plan your trip with the Lukla Flights Diverted to Ramechhap?
Taking the Lukla Flights Diverted to Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu does not change anything. The trek schedule remains the same. However, it is a slight inconvenience and an additional challenge for the trekkers. Trekkers should get up early in the morning and travel to Ramechhap on the windy mountain road (Hopefully, not back and forth to Ramechhap on the same day).
Depending on the weather, helicopters have permits to fly instead of airplanes. If there is a chance of flight cancellation, and there is a helicopter permit, it might be possible to arrange a helicopter from Ramechhap or Kathmandu.
How to avoid the Lukla flight diverting to the Ramechhap situation?
To avoid the hassle of traveling back and forth or to avoid the Lukla flight being diverted to Ramechhap, one alternate option is to take a helicopter from Kathmandu. It will take you straight to Lukla from Kathmandu. We will try to arrange the helicopter from Kathmandu if trekkers notify us in advance.
That will take an extra charge of the Helicopter cost to Lukla. Please inform us if you would like us to arrange a helicopter, and we will update you about the availability of the helicopter once you arrive in Nepal.
The helicopter operates on a chartered basis, and availability changes almost every day. If the helicopter is needed for evacuation, evacuation takes priority, and helicopters might not be available for trekkers even after confirmed bookings which might be a slight inconvenience to the trekkers.
Flights getting postponed is not an everyday routine. However, it occasionally happens during bad weather to avoid unfortunate events and guarantee your safety. Enjoying the traffic-free bus ride along with the spectacular view early in the morning to catch your flight is always a decent option.
And, if you want to experience the helicopter ride among the Himalayas, you might want to consider taking a helicopter from Lukla to Kathmandu instead of a round trip as you can dodge heavy traffic on a bus while returning to Kathmandu in the evening.
Are there any current flights directly from Kathmandu to Lukla?
Some planes will still travel directly from Kathmandu to Lukla, as in prior seasons, although only on an infrequent basis. Airplanes must have proper checks and maintenance reporting is a must. Also, there should be a rotation of pilots and crew members regularly. The plane should land in Kathmandu to accomplish this.
If the plane lands in Kathmandu, there shall be a flight directly from Lukla to Kathmandu. However, the first flight of the next day will fly via Kathmandu. The day’s final flight can face cancellation due to inclement weather in the evening. If there is no cancellation of the last flight, the aircraft will remain at Lukla or Ramechhap.
Moreover, the first flight the next morning will face cancellation or diversion. This scenario shows the inconvenience caused by the Lukla flight diversion to Ramechhap. Taking the flight from Ramechhap to Lukla is the most reliable option.
Why is Ramechhap a decent option for flights?
We agree that taking a bus for almost 4 hours just to get a flight to Lukla is inconvenient for all the trekkers. However, it also has some perks compared to flights taken from Kathmandu. Firstly, the flight to Lukla from Ramechhap is only 15 minutes compared to 45 minutes from Kathmandu.
If the weather condition is favorable, several flights can take off in a short amount of time. But in Kathmandu, all the international flights and many national flights have to take off and land at the same airport, making it very hard for the Lukla flight to get their turn. And, in most cases, the flights get delayed due to the heavy traffic.
You might miss the window of the great weather to fly to Lukla. We want our guests to have the best chance to get to Lukla in favorable weather. Also, we want to start the trek as per the schedule. Hence, if we think about it, taking a flight from Ramechhap is not necessarily a terrible option but just a challenge toward a wonderful trek.
How long will these diversions to Ramechhap be taking place?
Diversion of Lukla flight from Kathmandu airport has regularly been ongoing since late 2019. It seems to continue for the next several seasons. Due to the limited capacity and heavy traffic of the only international airport in Nepal. Being the only international airport in Nepal and the only airport in Kathmandu. It has to handle a lot of national and international landings and take-offs. Hence, that is why some of the flights, including the flight to Lukla, have been a diversion.
As per the instructions given by the airlines, there is a good chance that the diversion of Lukla flights will continue. This system will take place in the future until the Nepal Aviation Authority finds a proper solution. The needed solution is to alleviate the crowded condition of flights at Kathmandu airport. This does not seem to make much sense for Nepal. However, the diversion continues without constructing an airport to reduce the crowd at the only international airport in Nepal.
We realize that the diversion will cause a great inconvenience to all the trekkers trying to reach Lukla, and we apologize to you all in advance. To help all the trekkers affected, we notify all the existing trekkers about this. Taking a Lukla flight diversion to Ramechhap after a long bus ride surely adds to the challenge of reaching Lukla.
Still, currently, it is unavoidable and something every trekker has to deal with. So, all we want to add is that we will do our best to ensure that everything that has been planned runs as smoothly as possible. Also, let us hope that the treks go as planned and the airport at Kathmandu will be up and running soon.
