Nepal’s Himalaya Airlines has restarted its direct Kathmandu–Shanghai Pudong flights, with the inaugural service departing Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday, 28 September. The carrier will operate the sector twice weekly (Monday/Friday outbound, Tuesday/Saturday return) using an Airbus A320neo configured with 150 economy and 8 business-class seats. The revival makes Himalaya the only airline linking Nepal’s capital with China’s commercial centre, re-opening a route that was suspended in early 2020. Aviation analysts say the timing is strategic: Nepal’s peak autumn trekking season is under way, while China is gearing up for Golden Week outbound travel. Load factors above 75 percent are expected in both directions. For Chinese travellers the flight offers a one-stop connection to Himalayan adventures without transiting via Guangzhou or Chengdu. For Nepali exporters it provides 20 tonnes of weekly belly-hold capacity for fresh produce and handicrafts destined for the Yangtze River Delta. Corporate travel managers should note that China grants 15-day port visas on arrival for Nepali business travellers arriving on Himalaya’s flight, provided they carry invitation letters issued by Shanghai’s commerce bureau. Conversely, Chinese nationals can obtain a 30-day visa-on-arrival at Kathmandu airport if holding hotel confirmation and US$30.
