Dubai: Gulf airlines have introduced contingency measures on flights from Nepal’s capital Kathmandu amid concerns aircraft could be stranded due to a fuel shortage in the country.
There have been fuel shortages in Nepal since early August after the introduction of a new constitution that has upset the Madhesi people in the south near the Indian border. Madhesi protesters, who say they are underrepresented in the new constitution, have been accused of blocking border supply routes used by fuel trucks.
Flydubai’s three daily direct flights from Kathmandu to Dubai are now stopping in Lucknow in northern India to refuel, a spokesperson told Gulf News by email. The Dubai to Kathmandu leg, though, is unaffected.
Etihad Airways has adjusted flight times to and from Nepal so that it is able a fly a larger aircraft that can carry fuel from Abu Dhabi for the return flight.
“Contingency plans, including small schedule changes, have been put in place to ensure our aircraft are fuelled and the airline is able to continue serving Nepal,” an Etihad spokesperson told Gulf News by email.
Cancellation
Qatar Airways has also changed its flights from Kathmandu to Doha. The airline has cancelled one of its four daily return flights and upgraded another to a larger aircraft between September 30 and October 30, according to its website. The larger aircraft carried fuel from Doha for the return leg.
All three airlines said they are monitoring the situation and Etihad said it expects the fuel shortage to continue until the end of October.
Air Arabia is also continuing to operate flights to Kathmandu, according to flighttracker.com. A spokesperson from the airline did not respond to a request to comment on whether flights have been affected by the fuel shortage.
