Nepal Airlines
Nepal’s state-owned flag carrier, operating scheduled domestic and international services from Kathmandu with a network linking Himalayan communities and major Asian cities.
About Nepal Airlines
Nepal Airlines is Nepal’s state-owned flag carrier and one of the country’s longest-established aviation brands. Founded in 1958 as Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, it adopted its present name after Nepal became a republic. The airline operates under the Nepal Airlines Corporation identity and uses the IATA code RA and ICAO code RNA. It provides scheduled passenger services while also fulfilling an important national role in connecting Nepal with regional markets and remote domestic communities.
Kathmandu is the airline’s primary hub and the centre of its international and domestic operations. Its network comprises 20 routes serving 11 destinations across five countries. Notable points include Bangkok, Doha, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, alongside Nepali destinations such as Biratnagar, Tumlingtar, Pokhara, Lamidanda, Phaplu and Rumjatar. The mix of international gateways and short domestic sectors reflects Nepal’s geography and the importance of air links where overland journeys can be difficult.
Aircraft types used across the airline’s operations include the Boeing 757 and De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. The 757 is associated with international trunk routes, while the Twin Otter is suited to short runways and demanding regional airfields in Nepal. Service arrangements depend heavily on aircraft and route: international flights may offer separate business and economy cabins, whereas domestic services are generally simpler, with limited space and fewer onboard amenities.
Nepal Airlines is not a member of Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld, so passengers should not expect alliance-wide benefits such as reciprocal lounge access or through-status recognition. The carrier’s loyalty programme is Shangri-La, although its earning and redemption reach is more limited than that of major global airline schemes. Travellers connecting to unrelated airlines should check whether baggage can be transferred and allow sufficient time for separate ticket formalities.
The airline’s principal strength is its combination of international links and domestic access within a mountainous country where aviation can be essential. Kathmandu-based itineraries can provide useful direct options for travellers visiting Nepal. The main challenge is operational variability: weather, airport constraints and aircraft scheduling can affect domestic flights in particular. Passengers should keep flexible plans, confirm departure details close to travel and avoid tight connections involving remote airfields or separately booked international services.
Good to know
Flying with Nepal Airlines — what to expect
Kathmandu Connections
Kathmandu is the main transfer point for Nepal Airlines services. Allow generous connection time, especially when combining a domestic flight with a separately booked international journey.
Weather Disruptions
Flights to smaller Nepali airfields can be delayed or cancelled by mountain weather and visibility. Avoid building inflexible same-day plans around remote-sector arrivals.
Aircraft Differences
Cabin layout, baggage space and onboard service vary substantially between international Boeing operations and domestic Twin Otter flights. Smaller aircraft may have particularly limited overhead storage.
Baggage Rules Vary
Allowances depend on the route, cabin and ticket conditions. Check the allowance shown on your booking before departure, particularly for domestic sectors using smaller aircraft.
Check In Early
Arrive with extra time at Kathmandu and confirm the operating terminal and check-in deadline. Domestic and international procedures may differ, and airport congestion can slow processing.
Limited Alliance Benefits
Nepal Airlines does not belong to a major global alliance. Do not assume that status benefits, lounge access or through-checked baggage from another airline will apply.
Network overview
Where Nepal Airlines flies
Nepal Airlines operates 20 routes to 11 destinations across 5 countries, its longest sector reaching Doha to Kathmandu (3,364 km nonstop).
Destinations served
Cities Nepal Airlines flies to, most-served first.
Main hubs
Busiest departure bases, by route count.
Fleet
Aircraft types on record for these routes.
Longest nonstop route
Doha → Kathmandu
3,364 km · DOH → KTM
The longest sector in the Nepal Airlines network, measured as the great-circle distance between the two airports.
Route data · TravelPayouts route data · updated 2026-07
Route network
Popular routes operated by Nepal Airlines
Notable destinations on Nepal Airlines's network.
RAKathmandudirectRATumlingtardirectRABangkokdirectRABiratnagardirectRADohadirectRAHong KongdirectRAKuala LumpurdirectRALamidandadirectRAPhapludirectRAPokharadirectRARumjatardirectDestination list is indicative of Nepal Airlines's network; see the airline's official route map for its complete, current schedule.
Reviews of Nepal Airlines
TripAdvisor · 2020–2023- 515
- 44
- 31
- 26
- 124
What travellers flew
Counted from the 50 reviews below — a tally of the flights reviewed, with each chip carrying the average score those reviewers gave. Nothing here reads their prose or summarises what they said.
✓ marks a group averaging 7/10 or better, − one averaging 4/10 or worse, across at least three reviews.
I don't recommend
My partner and I choose this company for the first time. The landing time in Delhi was early morning - around 9:30 am; perfect for us because we could come back with enough time to reach our work in the afternoon. But it turned out to be challenging when 2… See more days before my trip started, the company changed the time of the flight affecting the landing time to 11h10 am. Things started to be bad when we tried to reach out to the company through phone calls, e-mails, and even the company site chat box... but everything showed up to be useless. When it was time to travel, the company still delayed 1 hour... It was a very bad experience. Not only because I and my partner couldn't reach in the time predicted by the company, but also because the company crew didn't know much about what was going on and couldn't give us information, not even the proper gate number that was the in the printed ticket happened. It was a different gate that we also figured out moments about to board. The only thing good about this flight was the food served on the airplane.
See lessPosted June 2023 by Priscila A
awareness for other people to never travel via this airlines
i have a flight on 31st may 2023 at 12:10 so i reached the airport at 10 am and visited the counter to know that the flight has been delayed to 16:30. seriously 4 hours delay. so the staff in counter said they will check us in and we can go to the departures… See more there will be refreshments. i didnt expect much from nepal airlines since i am from nepal and i know how it is here. but we waited and waited but there was nothing the airlines had to provide. so we bought oursleves some food in the very expensive shop inside the departures. i hight recommend people to never travel via this airlines else if u have to please keep enough transit if you have a connecting flight…
See lessPosted May 2023 by sujan t
TERRIBLE SERVICE
The worst service i have seen. There were no blanket provided. We couldn’t listen anything in the tv as the staff didn’t provide the earphones. There was a bread with no butter and no jam to eat with. The service was really bad. Such a bad experience. TERRIBLE… See more SERVICE
See lessPosted May 2023 by Shubham k
Not enough value
Patriotism, that's what led me to book the flight from ktm-bkk-ktm in NA401 and NA402 but the flight did not have value to be called a business class, maybe calling it a premium economy would be better. Just a heads up, it didn't have a inflight entertainment… See more system and the seats had received significant wear and tear (since it has a cloth seat, it looked dirty, although it was not). The food and service is not upto BC standards and serving etiquette is missing. I am hoping they increase the standards and learn the hospitality that is lacking, however, I am pretty sure there is someone in the decision making hierarchy that is satisfied with the way it is and will never really understand hospitality and service and why people pay more.
See lessPosted March 2023 by iCe
Saved the Day!
After missing my flight with Air India due to certain mishaps, the team at Counter D (especially the lady and Mr Mohammad Adil) were able to secure me a last minute ticket to Kathmandu with less than 10 minutes to spare! Amazing! Mr Mohammad Adil raced me… See more through the securities and whatnot allowing me to board the flight in good time. So grateful! 10/10 Big love from Australia!
See lessPosted March 2023 by William C
Mm
Me being nepali didnt like the airhotess treating indian old lady when she just asking for a help to adjust her seat belt. The staff was saying she didn't understand hindi ..it's fine you need not too.,but she did understand seat bealt. She could have simply… See more helped. Everything else was super good
See lessPosted March 2023 by Smita Naharki
Traveller reviews originally published on TripAdvisor, shown for reference — service standards may have changed since. Originfacts does not edit or verify individual reviews, and the sample reflects who chose to leave one.
More from Nepal
Other airlines based in Nepal
FAQ
Nepal Airlines — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- The longest Nepal Airlines route is Doha to Kathmandu, covering about 3,364 km nonstop.
- Nepal Airlines serves domestic points including Tumlingtar, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Lamidanda, Phaplu and Rumjatar, together with international cities such as Bangkok, Doha, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts. Originfacts never adds a fee.
- Lower fares are generally easier to find when booking early, travelling outside major Nepali festivals and holiday periods, and remaining flexible on dates. Compare nearby departure days because availability can change quickly on limited-frequency routes.
- Nepal Airlines’ primary hub is Kathmandu. Tumlingtar and Biratnagar are also important departure points within its network.
- Carry-on limits vary by route, cabin and aircraft, and space can be especially restricted on Twin Otter services. Check the dimensions and weight printed in your booking conditions before travel.
- Nepal Airlines serves exactly 11 destinations across five countries, operating 20 routes.
- The busiest departure points by number of routes are Kathmandu, Tumlingtar, Biratnagar, Bangkok and Doha, in that order. Kathmandu is the principal hub.