In September 2025, a month when China Southern Airlines became the busiest airline in China, Nepal Airline (RA) emerged as the leading international carrier operating flights from the busiest airport in Nepal – Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu. The national flag carrier transported a total of 53,262 passengers, comprising 28,178 visitors and 25,081 outgoing passengers, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), reported Insurance Khabar.
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| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| IATA | RA |
| ICAO | RNA |
| Callsign | ROYAL NEPAL |
| Country | Nepal |
| Started Operations | Jan 2007 |
| Predecessor | Royal Nepal Airlines (RA / RNA) |
| Base / Main Hub | Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM / VNKT) |
| Fleet Size | 6 Aircraft |
| Average Fleet Age | 19.8 Years |
Breaking down the number of RA passengers in September 2025
Nepal Airlines is a part of the Nepal Airlines Corporation, an enterprise that has its reputation tarnished the acquisition of its Airbus A330.The widebodies operated by the carrier have an approximate age of nearly seven years. Let’s have a look at the fleet of the carrier with the highest number of operations in Tribhuvan International Airport:
| Aircraft Name | Registration | Aircraft Type | Age | Delivered | Config |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sagarmatha | 9N-AKW | Airbus A320-200 | 10.7 Years | Feb 2015 | C8Y150 |
| Lumbini | 9N-AKX | Airbus A320-200 | 10.5 Years | Apr 2015 | C8Y150 |
| Annapurna | 9N-ALY | Airbus A330-200 | 7.4 Years | Jun 2018 | C18Y256 |
| Makalu | 9N-ALZ | Airbus A330-200 | 7.3 Years | Jul 2018 | C18Y256 |
| 9N-ABT | De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | 41.4 Years | Jan 2007 | Y19 | |
| 9N-ABU | De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | 41.1 Years | Jan 2007 | Y19 |
Who Are Nepal’s Main Airlines in 2025? – Avio Space
Nepal Airlines’ DHC operate on domestic routes. Nepal had recently announced that it would offer up to 80% discount for its senior citizens on its domestic routes, but according to Air Traffic Controller, Ujjwal Tiwari, who had remarked that Lukla wasn’t the most dangerous airport in Nepal, “the discount is only applicable on the highest fare of any route“.
Lukla: 5 Fast Facts About The World’s Most Dangerous Airport – Avio Space
Nepal Airlines operates the A320s and A330s operate international routes. Let’s breakdown the number of passengers in Tribhuvan Airport, even further:
| Metric | Number / Percentage |
|---|---|
| Passengers entering Nepal (Sep 30 – Sep 28) | 195,876 |
| Passengers departing Nepal (Sep 30 – Sep 28) | 240,394 |
| Entry via airports compared to other modes | 23% higher |
| International airline occupancy returning | 20% higher |
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Which other carriers have the highest number of passengers in TIA?
Let’s take a look at the other carrier with the highest number of operations at Tribhuvan International Airport:
5. Flydubai (FDB): 36,409 passengers
4. Qatar Airways (QTR): 39,278 passengers [Qatar Airways recently launched flights to Red Sea, though not from Nepal]
3. Himalaya Airlines (HIM): 42,119 passengers
2. Air India (AIC): 43,271 passengers
1. Nepal Airlines (NAC): 53,262 passengers
Let’s have a look at how Nepal Airlines configures its Airbus A330s:
| Attribute | Business Class | Economy Class |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 18 | 256 |
| Pitch | 75″ | 31–32″ |
| Width | 21″ | 18″ |
| Recline | 180° | 3″ |
| Description | Passengers enjoy ergonomic chairs, gourmet meals, onboard Wi-Fi, and tailored crew service for a luxurious journey. | Functional and inviting environment for regional routes; essential comforts and attentive crew ensure a satisfactory flight. |
This is how the airline configures its A320s, an aircraft type it operates to Mumbai:
| Attribute | Business Class | Economy Class |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 8 | 150 |
| Pitch | 40″ | 31″ |
| Width | 21″ | 18″ |
| Recline | 5″ | 3″ |
| Description | Regional travel with modern amenities, comfortable seating, and dining | Modern and well-appointed cabin for regional comfort; practical seating, and in-flight entertainment |
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All in All
Nepal Airlines’ leadership in international passenger traffic at Tribhuvan International Airport in September 2025 has come at a time when the airport could have been brutally burned down, as was much of the government buildings in Nepal. Although it is not a great shining light, it is a story of hope that an airport that was closed down in the Gen-Z protests has bounced back well.