What causes the Everest flight cancellation?
Usually, airlines such as Tara Air, Sita Air, and Summit Air operate Everest flights to Lukla for various purposes, including trekking, voyages, expeditions, and any other day-to-day activities each morning. The primary reasons for flight interruptions and cancellations are:
The sudden change in weather
The weather in the Nepalese Himalayas is volatile and can experience a variation in the blink of an eye that may include fog, high winds, storms, and snowfall in the upper region. Due to the high altitude, the change in weather can be rapid, especially during the afternoon, which tends to be more stable and reliable in the morning, while early morning fog and humidity can still lead to flight cancellations to any part of the country, including the Everest flight to Lukla.
The seasonal variation in weather
Like the journey to the Himalayas, certain times of the year and seasons pose more challenges than others to board the Everest flight, especially during the monsoon and summer seasons (June to August) and the winter season (December to February).
The summer season rains cats and dogs while dense clouds disrupt visibility, and the winter months present you with their own set of challenges, such as heavy snowfall and icy and humid situations often leading to flight cancellations, which are more prompt in the afternoon. Hence, most Everest flights are scheduled early in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat, considering your safety.
Whereas, spring and autumn are noted for their relatively favorable weather conditions, even to summit Everest Peak itself, along with their 99% fixedly departing flight, followed by a mild hiking temperature, clear visibility, and good condition of trekking trails and routes.
Lukla’s unique geographical condition
Built-in the year 1964 under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first one to successfully scale the highest mountain range in the world widely with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, Lukla airport is a domestic airport at an altitude of 2,845 m (9,334 ft) with one of the shortest runways in a steep gradient and hence is considered one of the most challenging airports in the world.
It is located in Khumbu Pasanglhamu, Solukhumbu District, Koshi Province, Nepal, and is famous for its towering hills and mountains. These high altitudes, short runways, and mountainous terrain have helped create a challenging environment for aviation, where even a slight change in weather can cause disruptions alongside Everest flight cancellations.
How can Everest flight delays and cancellations be avoided?
While it is still not 100% possible to completely avoid the risk of Everest flight delays and reschedule when trekking, traveling, or visiting Lukla in the Everest Trekking region, you can use some of the effective strategies given below to minimize the disruptions and enhance your overall experience:
- Book early morning flights, which are best a month prior to the beginning of the trip.
- Choose the right season for the Himalayan voyage.
- Select an itinerary that allows ample buffer days and is flexible.
- Consider alternative routes.
- Stay updated on weather conditions and other affairs related to flights and alpine rambles to Everest.
- Do not forget to get yourself comprehensive travel insurance, etc.
How to book an Everest Flight to Lukla?
Booking a flight to Lukla is a crucial step in your planning to visit the Everest region, for which you can do the following:
- Choose your appropriate travel date, season, and time, which is usually considered best during the spring and autumn mornings.
- When selecting a reliable airline, make sure to check their reviews and recommendations.
- Normally, you can directly book your flights online from various official websites of the airlines, such as Tara, Summit, Sita, and others.
- Make sure you have received your e-ticket and double-check your personal information.
- Keep your documents with you all the time while the luggage is restricted to 10–15 kg.
- On the day of departure, make sure you have arrived earlier, ideally before 3 hours.
- Stay informed and make sure you are prepared with other alternative plans, such as rescheduling, taking alternative routes, flying a helicopter, etc.
If you choose to take services and packages from professional travel, tour, and trek companies such as Adventure Himalayan Travels and Treks, you can rest assured regarding all the trekking and adventure logistics, such as food, meals, permits, and others, including the domestic flight to Lukla and back.
What are the things that you can do in case of a flight cancellation to Everest?
Though the Lukla flight cancellation can be frustrating to encounter, it is important to understand that it is a common occurrence on the way to the Everest Trekking region where many passengers often ought to reschedule for the next day’s flight, which usually board a flight at maximum times; if not, you can:
- Take a same-day hopper whose expenses can be lowered by sharing it with other passengers.
- Engage yourself in the UNESCO cultural, historical, and religious sites in the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu.
- Review your itinerary, familiarize yourself with the trek route, or consult with your guides and trekking agency.
- Visit several trekking equipment and gear stores for last-minute shopping.
- If the Everest flight schedule exceeds trekking itinerary days, consider alternative voyages such as the Langtang Valley Trek, Annapurna Circuit Expedition, Annapurna Base Camp Odyssey, Manaslu Circuit Pilgrimages, or others.
Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the itinerary and trekking route to Everest are flexible and customizable as per your needs and preferences, as offered by Adventure Himalayan Travels and Treks.
Which are the alternatives that you can consider during Everest Flight cancellations and rescheduling?
Not necessarily. The rescheduled flight to Lukla to explore and discover the mystery of the region home to the highest mountain giant on earth, Mt. Everest, can cater to your visa limits in Nepal, where taking alternative routes can be the best thing to do if you don’t wish to board on a similar Himalayan jaunt as mentioned above.
Here are some of the best other options to embark on the extremely adventurous as well as reading journeys to the Everest Himalayas in case of flight cancellation or rescheduling to Lukla:
Helicopter to Lukla From Kathmandu
Charting a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla is a reliable and quick alternative for flight cancellations that can last for 40–60 minutes and is one of the most convenient for time-conscious travelers, trekkers, and adventurers.
Usually, this particular option to reach the Everest Trekking Region gateway, Lukla, is quite expensive and can cost between USD 200 and USD 300. It can accommodate up to five passengers, and you have the advantage of getting to split the cost with other trekkers, providing you flexible departure times so you reach Lukla promptly.
Local airlines such as Simrik Air, Air Dynasty, Summit Helicpers, and Kaliash Air offer these mostly fixed-departing helicopter Everest flights!
Fixed flyovers to nearby airports
Nearby Lukla lies two other airports called Phaplu and Ramchhap, serving as one of the best alternatives to Everest flights to Lukla in the event of a cancellation or busy schedule of flights from Kathmandu during the peak trekking seasons of spring and autumn.
From Phaplu, you would be able to reach Lukla in about 2-3 days along the beautiful, untouched, and less crowded route, eventually leading you to Lukla, while from Ramchhhap Airport, the fly-over to Lukla is only 25 minutes, which involves a 4-5 hour drive from Kathmandu at first to have arrived at Ramechhap Airports.
Drive to Jiri then trek to Lukla
While indeed the drive to Jiri and trek to Lukla onwards is one of the best alternatives to circumvent the Everest flight issues, be it the cancellations of schedule, it is a historic route used in ancient times by early explorers, including the legendary mountaineers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.
Lying about 190 miles from the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, the joyous drive assures you a unique experience traversing deep through forests, diverse landscapes, and traditional Nepalese dwellings in 9–10 hours, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city lifestyle.
For Everest flights to Lukla that are canceled or are not as per schedule, the drive to Jiri is a reliable substitute, adding an extra 6-7 days to the itinerary you are taking to explore the Everest trekking region of Nepal.
Drive to Tham Danda via Phaplu
With the frequent rising issues of Everest flight cancellations and delays to Lukla, trekking on foot even to reach here has become a viable alternative, among which the drive to Tham Danda via Phaplu and trek onwards also stands out as one of the best routes.
This trekking trail can be risky during the monsoon or summer due to slippery roads, but is a flexible, reliable, and incredibly enriching journey that involves a combination of driving and trekking. The recent extensions of roads have made it possible to reach Thamdanda in the Solu Khumbu region even in private and public jeeps.
Further, it is also the shortest way to reach Lukla from the Solu region if you are not booking any flights, as it is composed of improved infrastructure, well-maintained hiking routes, and tea houses and lodges throughout the journey.
How much does an Everest flight cost?
Flying to Lukla is the most seamless, quickest, and most popular way to begin your Himalayan expedition in the Everest region, where several airlines operate flights daily, offering both economical national and international tickets. By planning and considering the unpredictable weather conditions, you can manage the costs and flight schedule, ensuring a smooth journey.
Usually, the one-way ticket to Everest flight to Lukla can charge you between USD 150 and USD 200 per person, while the round-trip ticket can range from USD 300 to USD 400 per person, depending on several factors such as the airline, trip season, and time of booking. These prices tend to go higher during the peak trekking seasons (March to May and September to November), so planning during low seasons can help you save significantly.
Why choose Adventure Himalayan Travels and Treks for a Himalayan expedition to Everest, flight, and schedule?
At Adventure Himalayan Travels and Treks, we ensure your smooth and enjoyable travel, tours, and treks in various mesmerizing Himalayan countries of the world, including Bhutan, Tibet, India, Singapore, and especially Nepal, for more than two decades, whether you are seeking an adventurous yet equally enriching journey to the Nepalese Himalayas such as the Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang Valley, Upper Mustang, Manaslu Circuit, or an extremely fulfilling Himalayan expedition to the Everest region or Nepal Bhutan Cultural Heritage and Nature Experiences Tour.
Based locally in the center of Nepal, Kathmandu, we excel at crafting customized and personalized trekking, traveling, and touring experiences where we ensure your utmost safety, enjoyable experiences, and hassle-free logistic management, including the Everest flights and schedule, where we can be your best companion as assured by the given ability to even deal with flight cancellations and delays effectively:
- With our years of collective experience and expertise in the field and our formidable connection with aircraft authorities, we assure you an easy booking.
- We offer comprehensive flexible itineraries and package services, having put serious consideration into potential flight cancellations, delays, acclimatization, and others.
- We are capable of handling all the necessary procedures for flight booking, cancellation, or rescheduling.
- In case of flight cancellations, you are always accessible to similar kinds of Himalayan trips in Nepal.
- We will provide you with quick alternatives to the Everest flight to Lukla as soon as possible.
- We offer you round-the-clock support throughout the journey, including during cancellation and delay hours.
- We are strongly guided by sustainable and ethical tourism practices.
- For a competitive price with zero compromise in quilty, we are the first and best choice, and many more.
To conclude, unpredictable Himalayan weather is the main cause of recurring Everest flights to Lukla, which are generally best scheduled in the morning, which specifically might not cause any sort of trip cancellation or having to lose your investment as you can always choose a similar kind of Himalayan Odyssey in Nepal or other happening alternative routes as briefed above, where government-authorized and trustworthy travel and trek organizers such as Adventure Himalayan Travels and Treks ensure your best experience.
Some Useful Information
When is the best time to book Everest flights to Lukla?
Commonly, the months of March, April, May, September, October, and December are regarded as the best time to book Everest flights to Lukla with comparatively low rates of flight cancellation, as assured by relatively stable Himalayan weather, clear visibility, and warmer days.
Can you get a refund if the Everest flight is canceled?
Yes, if the flight is canceled by an airline, you are usually liable to claim a refund, whose policies may vary from airline to airline and the travel agency through which you booked your flight. Most airlines offer a full refund on the flight being canceled due to bad weather conditions or operational issues.
If not, they often offer you the option to reschedule your Everest flight to the next available date without any extra cost instead of a refund, where travel insurance can do a lot to keep you financially secure. You may want to check our Everest Flights cancellation policy which is the same for all other flights that you board with us.
How does a guide help you in the case of Everest flight cancellation?
While it is your choice whether to purchase a full package to the Everest region whose cost covers the entire experience, even that of domestic flights to and from Lukla, hiring a guide can be integral, who provides you with immediate assistance, alternative trekking arrangements, logistical support, and valuable local knowledge, adding much to your stress and inconvenience management caused by a flight cancellation to Lukla.
Is there a limitation on luggage to board the Everest flight?
Yes, there is a limitation on how much you can pack to board the Everest flight to Lukla, which is usually around 10 kg/22 lbs per passenger; therefore, carry only those essentials that you will be briefed by your mountain guides, usually locals from the Himalayas, Sherpa, and others.
Why is the flight from Ramechhap to Lukla the best alternative to the Everest flight?
There are several benefits to flying over to Lukla from Ramechhap than Kathmandu, including less congestion, a more reliable flight schedule, a shorter flight time, more time for acclimatization, a scenic overland experience, and logistical advantages, along with the guaranteed seats even during the peak trek season when the direct flight to Lukla from Kathmandu can be hassling.
