Kathmandu, 8 Oct: Cathay Pacific Airways, which had abruptly halted its Nepal flights and returned to Hong Kong following the Gen-Z movement in Kathmandu, has resumed its Hong Kong–Kathmandu flights. Beginning October 1 (Ashoj 22), coinciding with the Nawami festival, the airline has restarted daily flights using a wide-body aircraft with a capacity of around 310 passengers.
During the 15-day suspension, nearly 9,000 passengers—mostly Nepali nationals and tourists traveling onward to destinations such as the United States, Australia, and Japan—were affected. Many passengers faced additional financial burdens, while some tourists who had already booked hotels in Nepal canceled their trips entirely due to the flight disruption.
Gen-Z Protests and Safety Concerns Led to Suspension
According to high-level sources at Kathmandu Airport, Cathay Pacific decided to suspend its Nepal flights from September 15 (Bhadra 30) for 15 days after protesters mistreated airline crew members who were resting at the Hyatt Hotel during the Gen-Z demonstrations on September 9 (Bhadra 24).
At the height of the tourism season, when bookings were already high, Cathay Pacific had flown in backup pilots and cabin crew for five days to maintain operations. However, as protests escalated—with released prisoners joining demonstrations and police weapons being looted—Cathay’s headquarters in Hong Kong considered hotels in Nepal unsafe for crew members. The airline decided to house one set of crew on board the aircraft while flying another set out of Kathmandu immediately after each flight.
At that time, Cathay’s Airport Operations Manager in Kathmandu, Abhit Shrestha, submitted a letter to airport authorities explaining that flights were temporarily halted due to the developing security situation.
Tourism organizations in Nepal condemned the decision, calling it “a painful blow to tourism at the start of the peak season.” They urged the government to ensure better protection for tourism-related businesses in the future.
Tourism Industry Welcomes Cathay’s Return
The Nepal Tourism Board’s CEO, Deepak Raj Joshi, described the airline’s return as “a very positive development.” He noted that the Gen-Z protests had forced the airport to close for two days, reducing tourist arrivals by about 40%, and that Cathay’s suspension had discouraged the market. However, he expressed optimism, saying, “Our tourism sector is returning to its rhythm. The first few days of October have shown arrivals almost equal to last year.”
Private sector travel agencies have also expressed happiness at Cathay’s return. Shyam Raj Thapaliya, Managing Director of Osho World Travel Nepal, said, “The resumption of Cathay Pacific flights is great news for travelers. The addition of another airline helps stabilize ticket prices and gives passengers more choices.”
He added that airlines benefit the national economy as airports, ground-handling companies, and the government all earn significant revenue from operations, taxes, and landing fees.
Currently, 27 foreign airlines, including Cathay Pacific, operate international flights to and from Nepal, alongside three Nepali carriers—Nepal Airlines Corporation, Himalaya Airlines, and Buddha Air—that also serve international routes.
