Pokhara—Paschimanchal Hotel Association Pokhara (PHAP) has welcomed the Gandaki Province Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment ministry decision to resume the flight services to Humde Airport of Manang and Simara Airport of Bara district from touristy town Pokhara.
Circulating a news report, PHAP chairman Bikal Tulachan termed the restoration decision a positive take of the government. He also urged the government to start the air connectivity between Pokhara-Bhadrapur and Pokhara-Nepalgunj. “If the flight services are expanded even to some Indian cities from Nepal, the government plan of 2 million tourists in 2020 would be easily achieved,” chairman Tulachan said.
Gandaki province tourism minister Bikash Lamsal on Sunday had carried out an interaction among the local level representatives, entrepreneurs from Bara, Pokhara, Manang, and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) officials and the decision was taken to resume the flight operation from Pokhara to Manang from January 8, 2019 and Pokhara to Simara from January 29, 2019.
Humde Airport in Manang is situated in 3,330 meter height from sea level and the flight between Pokhara and that airport takes 25 minute time but the regular flight operation to Humde has been closed for five years. According to information, 1 flight in a week to be operated from Pokhara to Humde and the flight would be doubled during the tourist season. Humde has now 900 meter long runway after the expansion took place some five year ago.
Following the information of flight resumption to Humde, local people seem very happy as they are relying on helicopter charter when they fall ill. The road to Manang from Lamjung is not pitched and the travel in off road is difficult. The famous Annapurna Circuit trek goes through Manang and tourists also could be benefited from the flight service resumption to Humde Airport that was opened in 2039 BS. According to CAAN General Manager Sanjeev Gautam, the flight to Manang would be restored after the study by his office technical team.
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