Kathmandu airport reopens, Kannadigas fly home safely

Kannadigas and other Indians stranded in Kathmandu of
restive Nepal, due to anti-corruption protests, have finally returned home after Tribhuvan International Airport reopened on Wednesday evening and resumed flights on Thursday.

Speaking to DH, Rajani Maski, part of the 39-member Kannadiga group, said she boarded a Nepal Airlines flight at 2 pm on Thursday and landed in Bengaluru the same evening.

Ticket prices normal

Ticket prices normalised with Nepal Airlines charging about Rs 11,000 compared to Indian carriers charging Rs 20,000. Due to high demand, Nepal Airlines upgraded to a larger aircraft and honoured the original fares for passengers who waited.

Many Indians, who had stayed in a three-star hotel, left on Thursday and Friday paying anything between
Rs 11,000 and Rs 20,000, less than the inflated rates seen while the airport was closed.

“The situation has improved. I saw young people clearing heaps and heaps of debris for the vehicles to pass,” said Manish, another native of Karnataka.

Air India added two extra flights to Delhi, while Nepal Airlines operated direct services to Bengaluru, Delhi, and Chennai.