Kathmandu airport reopens: Air India & IndiGo to operate special flights, regular operations from today

NEW DELHI: With Kathmandu Airport reopening on Wednesday, Air India and IndiGo will operate some special flights to fly out Indians stranded there. Also regular flights by Indian carriers will resume on Thursday and govt has advised fares be kept in "reasonable levels." An AI flight left Delhi Wednesday night and is expected back early Thursday morning.

Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on X: "Due to airport closure in Nepal, many home-bound passengers were unable to return from Kathmandu. With the opening of the airport operation in Kathmandu, the aviation ministry in coordination with Air India & IndiGo, has arranged additional flights Wednesday evening & over the next few days, alongside scheduled services resuming Thursday. Airlines have been advised to keep their fares within reasonable levels. We remain committed to supporting our passengers while ensuring their safe travel during this time."

Air India said it is operating "special flights Wednesday and Thursday from Delhi to Kathmandu and back to help passengers who have been stranded due to the recent developments in Nepal. Our scheduled operations will also resume from Thursday. We thank the government and other agencies for the quick coordination to facilitate this in the interest of our passengers.”

IndiGo said from Thursday (Sept 11) it will resume four daily scheduled flights to and from Kathmandu. "In addition, subject to regulatory approvals, two special relief flights will operate the same day, dedicated to bringing our customers home safely. To facilitate ease of travel, these relief flights will be offered at special fares,” IndiGo said on X.
The Kathmandu airport reopened on Wednesday and thousands of tourists, including from India, will be able to fly out as and airlines resume flights to the city.

IndiGo said on X Wednesday evening: "Flight operations to and from Kathmandu have now resumed following the reopening of the airport. As schedules are being progressively restored, customers are kindly advised to check their latest flight status on our website or app before proceeding to the airport."

Air India Express, which has a daily flight between Bengaluru and Kathmandu, says it is "offering guests booked to travel to or from Nepal up to Sept 17, 2025, the flexibility to freely reschedule their journeys to any future travel date with a complete waiver of change fees or any fare difference."

"Alternatively, guests who elect to cancel their bookings for these dates would receive a full refund to their original mode of payment or travel agent.... Our operations to and from Nepal remain unhindered beyond Thursday," an Air India Express spokesperson said.