Air Arabia Abu Dhabi to launch low-cost flights to Nepal in October

The airline will fly to Kathmandu four times per week, with one-way fares under Dh800

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi will begin flights to Kathmandu, Nepal on October 17. Unsplash

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is launching new flights to Kathmandu.

The low-cost airline will begin flying to the Nepalese capital from October 17, operating four flights a week from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Flights are scheduled to depart the UAE capital at 9am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, landing in Nepal just after 3pm. The return flight will depart Tribhuvan International Airport at 3.45pm on the same days, landing in Abu Dhabi before 7pm.

The airline will use the Airbus A320 and one-way fares for the journey start from $216 (Dh794). Nepal lifted its suspension on international commercial flights on September 1, but only Nepalis and international passengers from certain employment categories are currently able to visit the Himalayan country.

From Saturday, October 17, more travellers look likely to be able to fly to Nepal as the country is reopening for tourism before the autumn trekking season. More details on which countries and nationalities will be able to visit have not yet been announced, but all travellers arriving in Nepal will have to present proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken less than than 72 hours before departure.

Nepal is the eighth route for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi since the airline launched on July 14. Other destinations on its network include Egypt, Sudan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The UAE's fifth national airline was formed after an agreement between Etihad Airways and Air Arabia to establish the capital’s first low-cost carrier, complementing Etihad's services. The airline plans to build its network as more countries ease travel restrictions.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi also offers free Covid-19 insurance cover for passengers. This is automatically included as part of flight bookings and is valid for 31 days from the date of departure on the itinerary. Passengers who test positive for the coronavirus during this period will be able to use the airline's insurance cover to pay for medical expenses and quarantine costs.