A Breath of Fresh Air: Kathmandu's Skies Finally Clear, Flights Resume

Ah, the sweet sound of jet engines humming back to life! After what felt like an eternity, but was in truth a rather frustrating stretch of days, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, Nepal, has finally flung its gates — or perhaps, its runways — open once more. And honestly, it’s a massive sigh of relief for just about everyone involved.

For a while there, the scene was something out of a dramatic film, you could say. Dense, persistent fog had effectively grounded all flight operations, turning a bustling international hub into a purgatorial waiting room. Picture it: thousands of hopeful travelers, both those looking to jet off to international destinations and those just trying to make it home within Nepal, left in limbo. Flights, quite simply, couldn’t land; they couldn’t take off either. It wasn't just an inconvenience; it was a cascade of missed connections, disrupted plans, and the general weary feeling that comes with travel uncertainty.

But the clouds, metaphorically and literally, are parting. On Tuesday morning, the visibility improved, just enough, for the aviation authorities to give the much-anticipated green light. What a moment that must have been! Slowly but surely, the planes began their descent, touching down with an almost palpable sense of triumph. And then, one by one, others started ascending, slicing through the crisp, clear air that had been so stubbornly elusive.

While things aren't back to absolute, perfect clockwork just yet — these things take a moment to normalize, don't they? — the wheels are definitely turning. Both domestic and international flight schedules are gradually, organically, returning to their usual rhythm. It's a testament, perhaps, to the sheer willpower of getting things done, and a welcome relief for all those who’ve been patiently (or perhaps not-so-patiently) waiting for their journey to resume.