Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier, has officially begun direct flights between Kathmandu and Guangzhou, China. The first service took off on Saturday, opening a new chapter in Nepal’s air connectivity with one of China’s largest cities.
The airline had initially planned to launch the service on September 25, but technical issues forced a cancellation on the day of the inauguration. Passengers and invited guests who had already gathered at Tribhuvan International Airport were later accommodated by the airline.
Flight Schedule and Fares
Spokesperson Manoj Kumar Sah confirmed that Saturday’s flight returned from Guangzhou on Sunday with 107 passengers. He added that Nepal Airlines will now operate three flights a week.
- Special launch flights: September 28, October 16, October 20
- Regular schedule: Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday
- One-way fare: NPR 30,000
- Round-trip fare: NPR 50,000
Competition on the Route
The Kathmandu–Guangzhou route is already served by China Southern Airlines and Himalaya Airlines. However, industry experts believe Nepal Airlines will benefit financially as Guangzhou has a significant Nepali community and strong demand for travel.
Expanding International Network
With Guangzhou added, Nepal Airlines now connects Nepal to 11 destinations in nine countries. Using two narrow-body and two wide-body aircraft, its current network includes:
- Doha (Qatar)
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
- Dubai (UAE)
- Hong Kong
- Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore (India)
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- Dammam (Saudi Arabia)
- Narita (Japan)
Why It Matters
The Guangzhou route is expected to strengthen tourism, business travel, and trade between Nepal and southern China. It also gives Nepali travelers more options and competitive fares on a busy sector.