Nepal Airlines Direct Flight to Sydney: 2026 Status Update

For years, Nepali Australians have been waiting for one announcement: Nepal Airlines is flying to Sydney. The national flag carrier has talked about the route since it bought its wide-body Airbus A330s in 2018, and it came close in 2023. So where does it stand in 2026?

Short answer: as of September 2026, Nepal Airlines does not operate flights to Sydney or anywhere else in Australia, and there is no confirmed launch date. The route is still waiting on final safety approval from Australian regulators. Below we explain why, what would need to happen, and how to get the best fares between Kathmandu and Sydney while you wait.

The background: Nepal Airlines' Sydney plans

Nepal and Australia signed an air services agreement in October 2019, opening the door to commercial flights between the two countries. The agreement allows Nepali carriers up to seven weekly flights to major Australian cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth.

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) made its biggest push in 2023:

• It secured take-off and landing slots at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport for two flights a week.
• It lined up ground handling, catering, fuel suppliers and aircraft maintenance providers in Sydney and Singapore.
• It announced a first flight date of 21 June 2023, flying an Airbus A330 from Kathmandu to Sydney with a brief technical stop in Singapore to refuel.

That launch date came and went. The missing piece was never the airport slots. It was the regulator.

It's worth noting that even the planned service wasn't truly non-stop. Kathmandu to Sydney is roughly 9,700 km, so the A330 would have stopped in Singapore on the way. It would still have been far more convenient than today's connections, because passengers would stay on the same aircraft.

What CASA approval actually involves

Every foreign airline that wants to fly into Australia needs a Foreign Air Operator Certificate from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Holding airport slots or a bilateral agreement isn't enough on its own.

To issue that certificate, CASA looks beyond the airline itself. It also assesses how well the airline's home country oversees aviation safety. In Nepal's case that means the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which has faced long-running international scrutiny, including Nepali airlines' inclusion on the European Union's air safety list.

In early 2024, Australia's then Ambassador to Nepal said the process had progressed significantly but could take another seven to twelve months, because safety discussions between CASA and CAAN were still ongoing. That window has since passed without an approval being announced.

Why the route has not launched

Several factors keep the route grounded:

• Regulatory approval: without CASA sign-off, Nepal Airlines cannot legally operate scheduled flights to Australia. This is the main blocker.
• Nepal's safety oversight record: CASA's concerns centre on the national oversight system, which the airline can't fix alone. It depends on reforms at CAAN.
• A small wide-body fleet: NAC has only two A330s, and they already serve other long-haul routes such as Japan and the Middle East. Adding Sydney stretches a thin fleet.
• Commercial competition: the Kathmandu–Sydney market is already well served by strong one-stop carriers, so a new service would have to compete hard on price and reliability.

The transparency issue

Part of the frustration in the community comes from mixed messages. Over the years NAC has repeatedly described the Sydney launch as imminent, with new target dates and preparation trips, while CASA approval remained outstanding.

Nepali media in Australia have questioned whether some of these announcements overstated progress. At one point, a management trip to Singapore that was publicised as Sydney preparation was reported to have been mainly about engine maintenance. NAC maintains that it has submitted all the required documentation and is still committed to the route.

Our advice: treat any launch announcement as unconfirmed until tickets are actually on sale. A real launch will be visible in airline booking systems, not just in press statements.

What this means for Nepali Australians in practical terms

If you're planning a trip home, or bringing parents over to visit, don't wait for Nepal Airlines. Book with the airlines that already connect the two countries reliably.

The best ways to fly Sydney ↔ Kathmandu today

• Singapore Airlines (via Singapore): one of the quickest options, with total journeys from about 13 hours.
• Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur): popular for good-value fares and generous baggage.
• Thai Airways (via Bangkok): a reliable connection with plenty of schedule choice.
• Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong): a premium product that's handy from several Australian cities.
• China Southern (via Guangzhou): historically the most-used route for the Australia–Nepal market and often the cheapest.
• Qatar Airways (via Doha): a longer routing, but sometimes competitive on price, especially in premium cabins.

Tips for cheaper fares

• Book early for peak seasons. Dashain and Tihar (usually September–November) and Australian school holidays sell out fast.
• Be flexible by a few days. Mid-week departures are often noticeably cheaper.
• Check baggage, not just price. A slightly dearer fare with 30 kg or more of checked luggage can work out cheaper than paying for extra bags.
• Travelling with elderly parents? Choose shorter connections and request wheelchair assistance when you book.

For a full comparison of airlines, connecting airports and journey times, read our Sydney to Kathmandu flight guide. Travelling on a Nepali passport? Check the transit visa rules for your connection first.

Our team specialises in Australia–Nepal travel and can compare every airline on your dates in one go. See current Sydney to Kathmandu fares or search your own route on our homepage.

Will Nepal Airlines ever fly to Sydney?

It's possible. The bilateral agreement is in place, the airport slots were granted, and demand is proven, with well over 100,000 people travelling between Kathmandu and Sydney each year before the pandemic. But the decision rests on CASA being satisfied with Nepal's aviation safety oversight, and there's no public timeline for that.

We'll update this page as soon as there's confirmed news. Until then, the fastest and most dependable way home is a one-stop connection through Asia or the Middle East.