Kathmandu -During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin , Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli proposed the resumption of direct flights between Moscow and Kathmandu.

The proposal was made during a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of a conference organised by China.

Direct flights between the two capitals were halted more than two decades ago, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Russia’s economy weakened and its global connectivity shrank.

At one time, Russia’s national carrier, Aeroflot, operated flights to Kathmandu, but they were discontinued citing poor profitability. Since then, passengers travelling between Nepal and Russia have had to rely on transit points in other countries.

Russian tourists visiting Nepal usually travel via Turkey, while Nepali travellers also reach Russia using different transit routes.

In this context, Prime Minister Oli put forward the proposal for direct flights with Russia. 

Although Nepal had previously explored the possibility of starting flights after Aeroflot’s withdrawal, the initiative had originally come from Russia itself.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia had proposed the renewal of an air service agreement. Discussions continued even during the pandemic.

 Although the agreement was first signed in 1989 during the Soviet era, Russia later requested revisions, and Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation sent a draft for renewal.

In 2017, businessman Upendra Mahato attempted to restart Aeroflot flights, but issues related to the agreement stalled the process.

The matter gained momentum after Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali’s official visit to Russia, during which both sides exchanged drafts and held talks regarding renewal. 

Alongside these discussions, Russia also expressed interest in direct flights. However, as preparations were underway, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, halting the process.

Officials at the ministry now say that while Nepal’s latest proposal may help push forward the agreement renewal process, an immediate decision on direct flights is unlikely.

Airlines remain unconvinced that Moscow–Kathmandu flights would be profitable, citing insufficient tourist traffic and lack of two-way movement. 

However, some argue that even a weekly flight could gradually improve connectivity.

Despite Oli’s proposal, the prospect of flights resuming soon appears dim. With U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia, there is currently no mechanism to transfer U.S. dollars, creating further obstacles.