Regular air service between Pokhara and Jomsom has been suspended for approximately three months, dealing a seasonal blow to one of the country's busiest mountain-flight routes serving the popular Mustang region.
Tara Air and Summit Air, the two private carriers that operate flights on the sector, have confirmed the suspension of their regular Pokhara-Jomsom services for the coming months.
Deepak Pokharel, chief of the Jomsom Civil Aviation Office, said the airlines decided to halt operations due to a combination of seasonal factors. The arrival of the monsoon, the persistent adverse weather it brings to the mountainous terrain, and the tourist off-season have together made regular flights commercially and operationally difficult, he said.
According to Pokharel, the decision was driven largely by a steep decline in the number of air passengers on the route. With fewer travelers choosing to fly during this period, the airlines found it unviable to continue scheduled operations.
The two carriers withdrew from the route on separate dates. Pokharel said Tara Air suspended its Pokhara-Jomsom flights on May 22, while Summit Air followed on June 2, bringing regular air movement on the sector to a halt.
The Pokhara-Jomsom flight is a vital air link for the Mustang region, carrying tourists, pilgrims, and local residents over difficult mountain terrain in a journey that takes only about 20 minutes by air, compared to several hours by road. During peak seasons, the route sees heavy demand from domestic and international tourists, as well as pilgrims traveling to the sacred Muktinath temple.
Despite the suspension of flights, Pokharel noted that Mustang has not been cut off. Tourists continue to reach the region by road, traveling the overland route via Beni. The steady flow of road travelers indicates that visitor interest in Mustang remains, even as air traffic has dropped.
The monsoon period typically brings reduced visibility, heavy cloud cover, and unstable weather conditions to the high-altitude airstrips of the region, making flight operations risky and frequently leading to cancellations. These conditions, combined with the lull in tourism that comes after the spring trekking and pilgrimage season, routinely affect air services in the mountains during this time of year.
Regular flights on the Pokhara-Jomsom route are expected to resume once the monsoon recedes, weather conditions stabilize, and tourist arrivals begin to climb again ahead of the autumn season.
Please note that if you had the plans by flight and its cancelled we at Adventure Vision Treks operate the Muktinath tour by road and Muktinath tour by Helicopter as well.
