Photo: TRN Phaplu Airport located in Solududhkunda Municipality, Solukhumbu district.

Solududhkunda Municipality, the only municipality in Solukhumbu district, has demanded for the establishment of a refuelling centre at the Phaplu Airport to promote tourism. The municipality made this request to the central office of Nepal Oil Corporation.

Solududhkunda Municipality Mayor Namgel Jangbu Sherpa stated that they made the demand to address the issue of flight cancellations due to unpredictable weather conditions in the Khumbu region, which causes inconvenience to tourists and their support staff. The refuelling centre is also necessary to minimize the hassles faced by tourists and tourism businesses when flights from Ramechhap to Lukla are affected by adverse weather.

According to the Mayor, currently, flights from Ramechhap to Lukla are operational and the municipality is coordinating with the Nepal Oil Corporation and various airlines to establish a refuelling centre.

Phaplu, which has the highest number of airports in the country, is also a hub for direct flights from Kathmandu to Phaplu and from Phaplu to Lukla. Mayor Sherpa emphasised the need for a refuelling centre to make it a central hub for air travel.

The lack of regular flights from Phaplu has also impacted tourism in the lower part of Solukhumbu district, as well as causing difficulties for local passengers in terms of air travel and emergency evacuations.

Chief Administrative Officer Tukti Sherpa said that establishing a refuelling centre at Phaplu Airport is necessary to ensure regular flights and contribute significantly to tourism promotion by increasing the number of tourists. This will ensure easy and effective travel for the local people of lower Solu.