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Nepal’s vital air bridge to Mustang is returning to regular operation, as Summit Air resumes commercial flights on the Pokhara–Jomsom route following months of weather and season-related suspensions that had constrained access to one of the country’s most sought-after adventure and pilgrimage regions.
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Key Himalayan Route Back in the Air
Recent coverage from Nepali outlets indicates that Summit Air has restarted scheduled services between Pokhara and Jomsom after an extended pause driven by winter conditions, monsoon weather and fluctuating passenger demand. The short but strategically important hop connects Pokhara, often described as Nepal’s tourism capital, with Jomsom in Mustang, a gateway to Lower Mustang, Upper Mustang and the Annapurna Circuit side trails.
Reports from late August 2024 describe the air service resuming after roughly two months of disruption, with Summit operating multiple flights in a single day and carrying close to one hundred passengers into Mustang on the first day alone. Publicly available information from 2025 and early 2026 further shows a pattern of seasonal suspensions on the route, followed by coordinated flight restarts as spring and autumn trekking periods approach.
The renewed activity underscores how dependent Mustang’s travel economy remains on a reliable short takeoff and landing connection from Pokhara. While the Beni–Jomsom highway has been steadily upgraded, landslides and long road hours mean the 20 to 25 minute flight is still the preferred option for many travelers heading to Jomsom, Muktinath, Kagbeni and onward toward the restricted Upper Mustang region.
From Suspension Cycles to a New Tourism Push
In recent years, private carriers including Summit Air and Tara Air have repeatedly paused Pokhara–Jomsom operations during periods of heavy snowfall, strong winds or low demand, according to coverage from Radio Nepal and other local media. Decisions to halt service for several weeks or months at a time have been linked to safety considerations on the short mountain runway, as well as cost pressures when tourist numbers fall outside peak trekking seasons.
By early 2026, however, updated reports indicate that the resumption of flights is again being closely timed with the start of the spring visitor season. Operators have been limiting departure windows to the calmer morning hours, typically wrapping up flights before midday when strong crosswinds and reduced visibility become more common along the Kali Gandaki gorge.
This latest revival of Summit Air’s schedule is being framed within a wider effort to support a tourism rebound in Mustang after the shocks of the pandemic, road disruptions and broader aviation concerns in Nepal. Local news coverage notes that each restart on the route tends to bring an immediate uptick in trekkers, pilgrims and domestic tourists who had delayed travel while flights were grounded.
Mustang Adventures Regain Momentum
Jomsom Airport serves as the principal aerial gateway for Lower Mustang villages such as Marpha and Kagbeni, as well as for road transfers toward Muktinath and the restricted Upper Mustang plateau. Travel operators describe the Pokhara–Jomsom link as a crucial first step in itineraries that range from short lodge-based treks to multi-day jeep safaris and longer expeditions into the former kingdom of Lo.
When flights are suspended, visitors typically face a six to eight hour drive from Pokhara along the Kali Gandaki corridor, with journey times stretching further during monsoon or winter. Online trip reports and planning guides highlight how these conditions can discourage short-stay visitors and compress demand into tight seasonal windows when both the road and skies are reliably open.
With Summit Air back on the route, tourism-focused reports suggest that businesses across Mustang are preparing for stronger flows of both domestic and international travelers. Lodges, guides and vehicle operators are positioning for increased bookings tied to classic adventures such as the Lower Mustang trek, pilgrimages to Muktinath, and jeep-based journeys to Lo Manthang once travelers secure the necessary special permits.
Balancing Safety, Weather and Capacity
The Pokhara–Jomsom sector is widely regarded as one of Nepal’s more technically demanding regular domestic routes. Jomsom Airport lies high in a narrow valley, with strong winds and variable visibility that often restrict operations to morning hours. Aviation safety reports from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal describe a need for careful scheduling, conservative weather minima and strict adherence to visual flight rules along the corridor.
Recent reporting on service resumptions notes that carriers have been capping the number of daily flights and concentrating operations before late morning, when wind speeds typically rise across Mustang. In some restart phases, combined capacity from Summit Air and Tara Air has been limited to around five flights per day, reflecting an effort to match supply with both safety constraints and evolving demand.
These operational choices are emerging alongside a broader national conversation about aviation risk management in mountainous terrain. While the Pokhara–Jomsom route is critical for Mustang’s economy, publicly available data and analysis stress that sustainable tourism growth depends on aligning capacity increases with upgraded safety oversight, aircraft maintenance standards and pilot training tailored to short takeoff and landing strips.
Economic Lifeline for Communities Along the Kali Gandaki
The renewed flights carry implications well beyond foreign trekkers. Mustang residents, students, traders and patients seeking medical care in Pokhara all rely on the air link when the road network is blocked by landslides or snowfall. Reports from local media during previous suspensions describe situations in which travelers faced high helicopter charter costs or extended overland detours when both road and air access were constrained.
With regular Summit Air services once again connecting Pokhara and Jomsom, stakeholders along the Kali Gandaki corridor are looking to a more predictable flow of goods and people. Tourism entrepreneurs quoted in regional coverage have expressed confidence that combined improvements to the highway and a more stable flight schedule can spread travel benefits more evenly across the year.
For international visitors planning Mustang itineraries, the return of the Pokhara–Jomsom connection simplifies logistics at a time when interest in Himalayan trekking and cultural travel to remote regions is trending upward. As Nepal continues to refine its mountain aviation policies, the way this route operates over the coming seasons is likely to be seen as a bellwether for how the country balances safety, access and economic opportunity in some of its most dramatic landscapes.
Nepal News: Pokhara–Jomsom flights resume
The Rising Nepal: Flights to Mustang resume after two months
Radio Nepal: Pokhara–Jomsom flights resume after winter suspension
Radio Nepal: Private airlines suspend Pokhara–Jomsom services
Tourism Mail: Pokhara–Jomsom air service resumes after weather-related hiatus