Kathmandu is Nepal’s gateway to the world, and it is a smart place to begin any journey thanks to broad regional links and easy access from the city.
Flights from Kathmandu connect to more than 40 destinations across 17 countries, giving you options across the Middle East, South and East Asia, and beyond, subject to change. The airport sits just over five and a half kilometers from the city center, so getting to your departure is quick and predictable for early morning and late night takeoffs alike. For price conscious travelers, cheap flights from Kathmandu are easier to uncover when you are flexible with dates, open to self transfer connections, and ready to search widely. That combination lets you reach major hubs for onward travel or fly straight to trekking gateways and beach cities in one seamless plan.
The vibe is classic Kathmandu too, with mountain views on clear days and an atmosphere that feels both local and global as trekkers, pilgrims, and business travelers mix at the terminal. Spring and autumn are the city’s peak travel seasons, so building in flexibility can make a big difference during those months. In quieter monsoon months, you can often find more room to maneuver on dates and routes, subject to availability.
From quick regional hops to longer flights that open up entire continents, travelers choose routes that balance convenience, onward connections, and seasonal timing.
Doha is a consistent favorite for connections to Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with typical nonstop flight times around four hours and fifteen minutes, subject to change. Istanbul is a popular all in one city break and connection point, with examples of nonstop flight times close to seven hours and fifty five minutes on carriers such as Turkish Airlines, subject to change. Bangkok appeals for its food, culture, and onward links around Thailand, with example nonstop durations near four hours, subject to change. Delhi remains one of the most traveled short routes for business, study, and family visits across India, and example nonstop times are about one hour and thirty minutes, subject to change. Kunming opens a direct door into southwest China, with example nonstop durations around three hours and twenty minutes, subject to change.
At home, domestic flights to trekking and leisure hubs like Pokhara are frequent, making weekend flights from Kathmandu simple to plan when the weather cooperates, subject to change. Travelers pick these routes because they offer reliable onward connectivity, a balance of city and nature escapes, and flight times that fit both quick getaways and long trips. If you are watching for last minute flights from Kathmandu to a hub, keeping flexible on departure times can help.
Timing matters more than you think. Kathmandu has clear peaks and softer shoulder periods that can influence both fares and availability.
Spring from March to May and autumn from September to November bring peak demand for treks and festivals, so prices can rise earlier and seats can sell out faster, subject to change. Monsoon season from June to August usually counts as off peak, when frequencies may adjust and you may find better value if you are flexible, subject to change. A practical rule of thumb is to look four to six weeks out for short regional trips and a bit earlier for longer itineraries, while still keeping an eye on fares.
Rather than refreshing the same search daily, use Set a Price Alert to track fare drops and get notified when the price changes. Planning a loop across multiple cities in Asia or the Middle East is easier with the Nomad Search Tool. You enter three or more stops and your dates, and it finds a cheap multi city order for you. If you are open to creative itineraries like self transfer, hidden city, or throwaway ticketing, check out Travel Hacks to understand how these options work and when they can help. For cheap one way flights from Kathmandu, flexibility on nearby dates and off peak days like midweek can make a noticeable difference, subject to change.
Here is the practical information you need to move smoothly from city to gate and choose the right carriers for your plans.
Tribhuvan International Airport carries IATA code KTM and ICAO code VNKT. It sits about 5.56 kilometers east of the city center near Pashupatinath Temple and has one asphalt runway approximately three thousand three hundred fifty meters long, subject to change. The airport operates two terminals, one for domestic services and one for international flights, with upgrades completed around 2020 to handle growing traffic. Taxis wait outside the terminal and typically take about fifteen to twenty minutes to reach central neighborhoods depending on traffic, subject to change. Many hotels run shuttle transfers on request and there are dining spots, duty free, and lounges including an executive lounge used by several airlines, subject to change.
Airlines flying from Kathmandu include a mix of domestic and international operators. For domestic routes, Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines, and Saurya Airlines link the capital with cities around Nepal, subject to change. Internationally, carriers such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways, Air India, and China Eastern connect Kathmandu with major hubs across Asia and the Middle East, subject to change. Full service airlines dominate many routes, while lower cost options can appear seasonally or on specific city pairs, subject to change. Check in guidance generally runs to at least one and a half hours for domestic flights and at least three hours for international flights.
If you want to mix and match carriers in a single trip, Kiwi.com’s self transfer approach, also known as Virtual Interlining, can combine flights that do not traditionally cooperate. When you add the Kiwi.com Guarantee, our Disruption Protection covers your itinerary if carrier changes stop your trip in its tracks by offering instant Kiwi.com Credit for rebooking or help with airline refunds, all handled online. This is especially useful when connecting two separate tickets on different airlines.