China Southern Airlines has cancelled its flights to Nepal from Tuesday until October 10, stating that it would not be able to fly without refueling at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). More airlines are likely to follow suit. 

Citing that jet fuel crisis is likely to deepen on the heels of the unofficial trade embargo imposed by India, the airport authority has barred foreign carriers to refuel at the TIA from Tuesday afternoon onwards. 

The airport authorities on Monday sent a notice to foreign airlines flying the Nepal sector that the cutbacks would come into effect by 12 noon on Tuesday.

TIA officials have said that the tough decision was taken in response to requests made to them by the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

“We are sorry to inform passengers that due to jet fuel problem in Nepal, China Southern Airlines has cancelled its flight from Guangzhou-Kathmandu-Guangzhou effective from September 29 to October 10,” the airline said in its Facebook page. 

More airlines are preparing to suspend flights to Nepal for a temporary period, according to airlines officials. 

Dhiraj Chandra Shrestha, deputy sales manager of China Southern, said that they have been flying a 115-seater A319 on the Kathmandu- Guangzhou route and the plane cannot carry a full load of passengers, cargo and a full load of fuel.

He said that the airline is also is on a “wait and see” mode after October 10. “We also have been discussing with Bangladesh to provide refueling facilities.”