Himalaya Airlines will launch a new direct air service between Kathmandu and Hangzhou beginning September 30, 2026, and will resume its Kathmandu–Shanghai flights starting September 28, 2026. Both routes will initially operate twice weekly. The Kathmandu–Hangzhou outbound flight H9225 departs Kathmandu at 5:15 pm every Wednesday and Sunday, arriving in Hangzhou at 1:05 am the following day. The return flight H9226 leaves Hangzhou at 2:05 am on Mondays and Thursdays, arriving in Kathmandu at 6:20 am the same day. Kathmandu–Shanghai flights depart Kathmandu on Mondays and Fridays, with return flights from Shanghai on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Details of New and Resumed Routes
The Kathmandu–Hangzhou route will
link Nepal’s capital with Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province, known for its cultural heritage and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: West Lake Cultural Landscape, Grand Canal, and Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Himalaya Airlines will be the exclusive operator of this direct scheduled service, a first in the history of the route. Similarly, the Kathmandu–Shanghai connection resumes service with Himalaya Airlines as the sole direct carrier, connecting Kathmandu with Shanghai, China’s largest city and a major global financial hub.
Strategic Goals and Economic Significance
These route launches form part of Himalaya Airlines’ objective to establish direct connections to ten strategic tourism and economic
centers within China. The airline targets attracting one million Chinese tourists to Nepal over the long term. The Kathmandu–Shanghai service is considered strategically important for Nepal–China relations. Both routes aim to support Nepal’s inbound tourism and hospitality sectors, particularly as the new services commence at the start of Nepal’s peak autumn tourism season.
Airline Vision and Tourism Impact
Himalaya Airlines Vice-President Vijay Shrestha emphasized the carrier’s history of pioneering China routes ahead of market trends and its commitment to linking culturally and economically vital cities. The airline plans to uphold high safety and service standards while welcoming passengers on both routes. Flight frequencies on the
Kathmandu–Hangzhou and Kathmandu–Shanghai routes may be increased in the future depending on passenger demand and load factors, allowing expanded connectivity between Nepal and key Chinese cities.
