Dubai: Air Arabia flights from Kathmandu in Nepal to Sharjah are stopping in India to refuel because of an ongoing fuel shortage in the Himalayan country, an airline spokesperson told Gulf News on Friday.
Air Arabia is the latest Gulf airline to confirm it has introduced temporary contingency measures on flights from Nepal, with the country facing fuel shortages since August.
“For Kathmandu, due to fuel shortage in the country, the flight on the way back stops in Lucknow to refuel,” the spokesperson said by email.
Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and flydubai have also made changes to operations on flights from Nepal.
Etihad is flying a larger aircraft on the route that can carry fuel from Abu Dhabi for the return leg.
Qatar Airways has temporary cancelled one daily flight and placed a larger aircraft on another daily service so that it can also carry fuel from Doha for the return flight.
Flydubai is stopping in Lucknow on the way to Dubai to refuel.
Protestors from Nepal Madhesi ethnic group in the south have been accused of creating the shortage by blocking border supply routes used by fuel trucks.
The protestors claim Nepal’s new constitution introduced in August leaves them underrepresented.
