Nepal unrest: Indian airlines suspend flights to Kathmandu; all you need to know | India News

NEW DELHI: Amid escalating political unrest in Nepal, Indian airlines have suspended flights to and from Kathmandu. IndiGo issued a travel advisory announcing the suspension of all flights until 6 pm on Wednesday. In a post on X, the airline said, “Following the extension of the airport closure in #Kathmandu, all flights to and from the city will remain cancelled until 1800 hrs on September 10.”The advisory comes after the extended closure of Tribhuvan International Airport due to security concerns. According to Nepal’s news agency Khabarhub, the airport will remain closed until 6 pm on Wednesday.Passengers affected by the cancellations can reschedule their flights or request refunds. IndiGo has extended waivers on rescheduling and cancellations for travel to and from Kathmandu until September 12, applicable for bookings made on or before September 9. The airline assured travellers that its teams are closely coordinating with authorities and are ready to resume operations as soon as permission is granted. Earlier, according to a previous advisory, all IndiGo flights were cancelled until 12 pm on Wednesday. SpiceJet also announced that flights to and from Kathmandu on September 10 stand cancelled due to the prevailing situation. Passengers will be informed via SMS or email on their registered contact details. Air India has offered passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Kathmandu until September 11, on tickets issued up to September 9, a one-time waiver on rescheduling charges in view of the airport closure. The suspension comes amid political unrest in Nepal, where anti-corruption protests escalated in Kathmandu, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Protesters stormed the homes of several leaders and set fire to private residences, including those of Oli and communication minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has advised Indian citizens to defer travel to Nepal until the situation stabilises. Those currently in Nepal have been urged to stay indoors, avoid streets, exercise caution, and follow local safety advisories. The MEA also shared helpline numbers for the Embassy of India in Kathmandu for those needing assistance.