International flight activity at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport has dropped sharply following escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted air routes across the Gulf region.
The decline began after joint military strikes by the United States and Israel in Iran triggered heightened security concerns and airspace closures in several Gulf countries. As a result, international flights operating through Kathmandu, particularly those connecting to Gulf destinations, have significantly reduced since mid-February.
According to airport officials, flight activity that had remained stable earlier in the month began to decline immediately after the attacks in Iran. On February 27, the airport recorded 106 international flight movements, including 54 departures and 52 arrivals. The following day, the number dropped to 90 flights, with 49 arrivals and 41 departures. Since then, daily international flight movements have rarely exceeded 74.
Passenger numbers have fallen even more dramatically. On February 27, nearly 16,900 travellers passed through the airport, including more than 8,100 departures and about 8,700 arrivals. By Thursday, total passenger traffic had dropped to just over 6,800 people, roughly 60 per cent lower than on a typical day.
Flights connecting Kathmandu with Gulf countries have been the most affected. Airlines such as Himalaya Airlines, Jazeera Airways, Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Qatar Airways and Nepal Airlines normally operate frequent services to the region. However, most of these carriers have suspended their operations for now. Flydubai has conducted a limited number of rescue flights, though these have not continued regularly.
Global flight data also shows a sharp drop in operations by major Gulf carriers following the escalation. Many airlines have either cancelled flights or rerouted aircraft after several Middle Eastern countries temporarily closed their airspace.
Overall, around 17 daily flights between Kathmandu and Gulf destinations have been cut, reflecting the wider disruption to international aviation caused by the ongoing conflict.