A sought-out destination for trekking, Nepal has long been a top travel destination in South Asia. Sandwiched between India in the east, west, and south, and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north, Nepal is landlocked with no sea link. Given its landlocked physical terrain, the country auspiciously inhabits the world’s extensive mountain range, vast flatlands, and diverse multicultural ethnic groups, along with other unique creations of Mother Nature. Every year a large number of people visit Nepal through different mediums. But given various ways to enter, in this travel guide blog, we answer the most frequently asked question- How to get to Nepal by Air?
To answer, multiple airlines manage direct flights to Nepal from many Asian and middle eastern countries. There are, however, no direct flights from the United States, Europe (excluding Turkey), Africa, or Australia to Nepal. Some Asian countries such as Cambodia, Maldives, Vietnam, Laos, and many more do not have direct flights to Kathmandu as well. Travelers from the countries where direct flights are unavailable will have to fly to Nepal with at least one layover before arriving at Kathmandu.
Moreover, Nepal has only one international Airport- Tribhuwan International Airport, also known as the TIA. All international flights land and takes off from here. Several airlines regularly operate direct flights from India, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Malaysia, Qatar, Dubai, Oman, Singapore, Bahrain, Turkey, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong to Nepal. However, the most convenient location for travelers with no direct flight is Dubai, Doha, India, and China. World-famous Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, Turkish airways, and several Indian and Chinese airlines regularly operate multiple flights to Kathmandu with transit at the airports of their respective countries. These nations are the most accessible destinations for catching connecting flights to Nepal.
Here below is the list of airlines that run flights in Nepal actively. If you are looking for the most fitting flight from Europe, America, Africa, Australia, and Asian continents, go through the list and search for a suitable flight route:
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways runs several flights to Nepal. However, since there is no direct flight to Nepal, every flight transits to Doha and flies to Nepal. Also, since it is one of the major airlines globally, it is a convenient airline for travelers worldwide. Travelers from any corner of the world can fly to Nepal via Qatar Airways. Additionally, since there are frequent flights in Nepal, travelers can avoid staying on long stops at the airport.
Indian Airlines
Several airlines such as Spice jet, Air India, IndiGo Air, and Vistara organize flights to Nepal. Kathmandu-Delhi route perhaps is the most preferred route amongst travelers. Flight duration from Delhi to Nepal is about 2 hours, so it is less hectic for travelers. Travelers also can fly to Nepal from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Nepal.
Chinese Airlines
Reportedly, six airlines from China operate flights to Nepal. Air China, Cathay Dragon, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, and Tibet airlines. These airlines regularly operate flights to Nepal and have travelers traveling from different parts of the world. Many travelers find it convenient to catch the connecting flight to Nepal from other significant airports in China.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is one of the most preferred travel airlines among visitors to fly to Nepal. Every flight to Nepal transits at Singapore Airport, and from there, they catch connecting flights to Nepal. If flying to Singapore and Nepal is a convenient route, they can fly via Singapore airlines. Moreover, from Singapore, most connecting flights operate through Silk Air. Silk Air is the subordinate airline of Singapore Airlines.
Emirates (Airline)
Emirates particularly do not fly to Nepal. However, its subsidiary airlines fly Dubai regularly flies to Nepal. As the Emirates network is worldwide, travelers can quickly fly to any airport in Dubai and take another connecting flight via Fly Dubai to Nepal. The flight duration from Dubai to Nepal is about 6 hours.
Turkish Airways
Turkish Airways is one of the most operating airlines in Nepal. With a layover in Istanbul, Turkish Airway regularly operates flights to Nepal. Turkish Airways is convenient for travelers from Europe and America. The flight duration from Istanbul to Kathmandu is about 8 hours. Although it is a pretty long flight, it offers several timely flights to Nepal.
Korean Air
Korean Air also runs flights to Nepal. With Seoul as a layover, anyone from any region of the world can fly to Kathmandu. Korean Air has wide networks across the globe.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia is another Middle Eastern airline that manages flights to Nepal. This airlines operates flights in more than 170 plus destinations. Thus, visitors from any corner of the world can fly to any airport in Dubai via Air Arabia and take a connecting flight to Nepal.
Malaysian Airlines
Malaysian Airlines is one of the oldest airlines that has been operating flights in Nepal. The airlines fly several destinations worldwide and are convenient destinations to catch connecting flights to Nepal.
Malindo Air
Another Malaysian airline that flies in Nepal is Malindo Air. It is one of the favored airlines for tourists to fly into Nepal. Like flag carrier Malaysian Airlines, Malindo Air also flies in many destinations globally. If you decide to fly to Nepal through Malindo Air, you will have a layover in Kuala Lumpur and then take a connecting flight to Kathmandu.
Thai Lion Air
Thai Lion Air is another Southeast Asian airline that operates direct flights to Kathmandu from Bangkok. It flies in many destinations globally, and one can fly to Nepal through this airline with a layover in Bangkok, Thailand.
Oman Air
Oman Air is the primary air carrier of Oman and flies in many destinations across the world. With Muscat as a layover, Oman Air carries many flights to Nepal. Also, the flight duration between Muscat to Kathmandu is about 5 hours. Hence, it is a convenient airline and flight route for travelers from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and even America.
Himalaya Airlines
Himalayan Airlines is a leading new international airline in South Asia, mainly based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Being a new air carrier of Nepal incorporation with China Joint Venture, Himalayan Airlines operates flights in Middle East Asia, South Asia, and China. Although new, the airline is becoming a favorite airline amongst travelers to catch connecting flights to Nepal from any destinations mentioned above.
Nepal Airlines
The flag carrier Nepal Airlines is the first airline and first international flight operating airline in Nepal. The airlines fly over Dubai, Narita (Japan), Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Doha, Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur regularly. Travelers can fly to any of the destinations mentioned above through any airline and catch a connecting flight to Kathmandu via Nepal Airlines.
These are the major airlines that organize regular flights to Nepal. Besides these, few other airlines also operate flights to Nepal. Yet, these airlines run frequent flights. Thus, it is more convenient for travelers to get to Nepal.
In continuation, our next section highlights accessible routes to fly to Nepal from various continents across the globe.
How to get Nepal by Air from Europe?
Europeans looking to visit Nepal can fly through any airline that is suitable for them. In all of Europe, only Turkey operates regular direct flights to Nepal. Therefore, the easiest route for Europeans to fly to Nepal would be to fly to Istanbul, Turkey, and take a connecting flight to Nepal via Turkish airlines. It would be a less tiring journey as visitors won’t have to spend long hours on one flight. Besides flying to Turkey, they can fly to India, China, or Doha (Qatar). These countries also operate most daily flights to Nepal than any other country in the world.
How to get Nepal by Air from America?
Some of the preferred routes by Americans to get to Nepal by air are to pass through Doha, Dubai, Singapore, India, China, Malaysia, and Bangkok. Flying through these countries offers a good chance of catching a connecting flight to Nepal. Qatar airways run several flights to Kathmandu from Doha, so do Fly Dubai and Turkish airways from different airports of Dubai and Istanbul, respectively. Travelers also can catch frequent connecting flights from Singapore. Silk Air, a subsidiary airline of Singapore Airlines, flies several connecting flights to Nepal.
Similarly, India and China are the other two countries where catching a connecting flight to Nepal is easy. Several airlines from these two continents operate regular flights to Nepal. China Air, Cathay Dragon, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, and Tibet airlines carry on flights to Kathmandu. Likewise, Air India, IndiGo Air, Spice Jet, and Vistara operate daily flights to Kathmandu from the major airports of India. Connecting flights from India are the shortest length, so it is a convenient terminal for a layover. Also, it is easier to find a flight to India and China from any airport in America.
How to get Nepal by Air from the United Kingdom?
For the less tiring journey, travelers from the UK can fly to Doha, Dubai, and Istanbul via any airline. And from these cities, take another flight to Nepal via Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, or Turkish Airways. These are the major airlines that offer frequent flights to Kathmandu. Similarly, many airlines in the UK run direct flights to India and China as well. They can fly to India or China and catch a connecting flight to Kathmandu.
How to get Nepal by Air from Australia?
For, Australians the most convenient way to reach Nepal is to fly via Singapore airlines. While traveling from Singapore airlines, you will have a layover at Singapore airport, and then you will take a connecting flight to Kathmandu via Silk air, a subsidiary airline of Singapore airlines. Flying through India and China is also another great route from Australia. Likewise, they can fly to Doha, Malaysia, and Bangkok and take another connecting flight to Nepal.
How to get Nepal by Air from African continents?
The easiest route to fly to Nepal would be to fly to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, or India for travelers from Africa. Even flying to turkey is fitting for travelers of these continents. Reliable and suitable airlines would be Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Fly Dubai, Air India, and many more. With transit to any country ideal for you, you can catch a connecting flight to Nepal. The airlines above operate multiple flights to Nepal daily.
How to get Nepal by Air from South East Asia, South Asia, and East Asia?
Singapore, Thailand (Bangkok), and Malaysia have direct flights to Nepal. And as per the remaining South East Asian countries, there is no direct flight to Nepal. They can fly to any of these countries and catch a connecting flight to Kathmandu. As per South Asian countries, many have direct flights to Nepal except Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Moreover, many East Asian countries have direct flights to Nepal except North Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Macau.
