According Debapriyo, most commercial airlines avoid flying directly over the Himalayas. This is because the Himalayas have mountains higher than 20,000 feet, including Mt Everest standing at 29,035 feet. However, most commercial airplanes can fly at 30,000 feet.

Technically, commercial airplanes can fly over Mount Everest, as most long-haul jets cruise at 30,000 to 40,000 feet, well above the summit's 29,032 feet. However, they almost never do so for safety and logistical reasons. The primary concern is "depressurization." If a plane loses cabin pressure, it must descend to 10,000 feet within minutes so passengers can breathe. In the Everest region, the "terrain clearance" is so high that a plane cannot safely descend to that altitude without hitting mountains. Furthermore, the Jet Stream over the Himalayas creates extreme turbulence and unpredictable wind shears that make the route uncomfortable and dangerous. Instead, airlines fly around the range, utilizing established waypoints that ensure a safe "escape route" to lower altitudes in case of an emergency. While specialty "Everest Flight" tours in Nepal fly close to the mountain for sightseeing, they do not fly directly over the peak, and they stay at altitudes where oxygen and engine performance are more manageable.