Air India flights to Kathmandu cancelled for a second day amid political unrest in Nepal

As Nepal continues to boil under political unrest, Air India on Wednesday announced the cancellation of its flights to and from Kathmandu for September 10, citing the continued closure of Tribhuvan International Airport.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and will share further updates. At Air India, the safety of our passengers and crew remain top priority,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement

This marks the second major Indian flyer to have moved to cancel flights to the Nepali capital on Wednesday. IndiGo suspended all operations to and from Kathmandu until 6 pm on September 10, after initially halting flights only until noon.


The wave of cancellations follows violent protests sweeping across Nepal since September 8, after the government banned several major social media platforms citing tax and cybersecurity concerns. Demonstrations, largely led by the youth and dubbed the Gen Z movement, have escalated into clashes with security forces, leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 500 injured.

Authorities have imposed curfews in several cities, including Kathmandu, to try to contain the unrest. On Wednesday, the Nepali Army issued prohibitory orders until 5 pm, followed by a nationwide curfew beginning at 6 am on September 11. The Army said further decisions would be taken depending on the ground situation.

The turmoil has also triggered a political shake-up. President Ram Chandra Paudel accepted the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday and is expected to meet protest leaders today in a bid to open channels for dialogue.

Beyond political grievances, the protests are fuelled by deep economic frustrations, particularly among Nepal’s youth. Nearly 5,000 young people are leaving the country every day in search of employment abroad, a jobs crisis that has amplified anger at the government.