KATHMANDU: Nepal’s domestic air services resumed on Sunday with 140 flights scheduled across the country, following a complete suspension of operations on Saturday due to heavy rain and poor visibility.

Visibility at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) improved after the rain subsided early this morning, allowing airlines to restart regular operations, according to airport officials. All domestic flights had been grounded on Saturday citing safety concerns.

The blanket cancellation had left hundreds of travelers stranded at airports nationwide, particularly in popular tourist hubs such as Pokhara, Lukla, and Bharatpur. Airlines have now reissued flight schedules and begun clearing backlogs.

While international flights operated on Saturday with only minor delays, several—including those of IndiGo, Thai AirAsia, China Eastern, Qatar Airways, Air India, Nepal Airlines, and Air Arabia—were temporarily diverted to nearby airports due to poor weather conditions in Kathmandu.

The resumption of domestic services marks a vital step toward restoring Nepal’s internal connectivity, particularly for tourists heading to trekking regions during the autumn season.

This recovery also comes as major highways across the country remain obstructed or closed due to landslides and floods triggered by recent heavy rainfall, making air travel an essential alternative for stranded travelers.

Meteorologists have forecast generally cloudy but improving weather conditions, and aviation authorities expect full normalization of flight operations by Monday.