Heads Up! Dubai To Kathmandu Flights Might Get Cancelled Due To Ongoing Anti-Corruption Protests In Nepal

If you’ve got travel plans to Nepal anytime soon, especially Kathmandu, you might want to hit pause and double-check your flights.

There’s a LOT going down in Nepal right now. The country has been rocked by massive, youth-led protests, dubbed the “Gen Z Protests” . The youth-led, nation-wide protests have led to the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu being shut down until further notice.

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Earlier this Tuesday, a Flydubai flight to Kathmandu was diverted to India’s Lucknow after the Tribhuvan International Airport was reportedly closed down.

Flydubai confirmed that flight FZ539, which left Dubai on September 9 was diverted and a spokesperson told Gulf News that passengers were flown back to Dubai later that day, as all other flights to Kathmandu got cancelled.

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So yes… if you’re planning to head there soon, it’s best to stay on track regarding the protest updates from the nation alongside flight situations.

 

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As to… what’s going on in Nepal?

In short: a full-on youth uprising against corruption.

Nepal’s youth have taken to the streets protesting against government corruption, unemployment and a recent ban on social media that triggered it further. Earlier this month, the Nepal Govt decided to ban 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, following viral campaigns.

Nepal govt was getting exposed for corruption, so they banned social media apps. But with almost 14 million young people, they can’t ignore Gen Z. This generation won’t stay silent.
pic.twitter.com/Ic0QHuMGMa

— sangwan (@SangwanHQ) September 8, 2025

This ban struck the Nepal’s youth, particularly the Gen-Z who rely on social media for information and activism. While their unrest moved the Nepal govt to lift the ban, the youth amplified it further and took their online anti-corruption campaigns to the streets. The clash claimed 19 lives and left over 100 injured.

Protesters have a right to peacefully protest and express their frustration and outrage against corruption and the government’s restriction on the right to freedom of expression including the social media ban in Nepal.

Amnesty calls for the immediate de-escalation of the… pic.twitter.com/Zm1gMO4MPn

— Amnesty International (@amnesty) September 8, 2025

Nepal’s Prime Minister resigned and evacuated

With the pressure mounting, Nepal’s PM KP Sharma Oli resigned and evacuated in army helicopters, along with several other government officials.

Earlier Lovin’ Dubai had shared a post regarding the same, and several Dubai residents had reached out to Lovin’ Dubai to convey that the protests were not merely driven by a social media ban but by the youth’s need for a governance that’s not corrupt.

Indian News channels are claiming that the protest by GenZ in Nepal was for social media ban. This is not true, It’s actually against the long standing corruption, Tyranny, oppression and autocratic leadership. Social Media ban was just one of the many stimulus. pic.twitter.com/GaSj2QtpLU

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 9, 2025

With protests continuing in full swing, Nepal’s regional media has announced that the Airport continues to remain closed until further notice and travelers have been asked to continue monitoring the situation before booking their tickets.

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