Govt will improve Nepal Airlines and address aviation sector issues: Minister Pandey

KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has expressed his commitment to improving Nepal Airlines and resolving existing problems in the aviation sector. 

During a press conference today to share the 100-day achievements of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) since the formation of the government, he mentioned that reliable services will be provided by addressing the issues faced by Nepal Airlines.

Minister Pandey stated, "The ministry has initiated efforts to identify the existing problems in Nepal Airlines and find long-term solutions. We have started by forming a committee to make Nepal's civil aviation sector safe and reliable." He introduced a bill to consolidate and amend the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and a bill to establish and regulate the Air Services Authority, separating the CAAN as a regulatory and service provider body.

He also announced that an action plan with concessions and incentives to operate international flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) and Pokhara Regional International Airport has been approved by the Council of Ministers and is in the process of implementation. "From November 9, Jazeera Airways will operate three international flights per week, and Fly Dubai will operate one international flight per day from the GBIA," Minister Pandey said.

During this period, the MoCTCA stated that passengers who missed their international flights due to transport service disruptions will be able to change the date of their tickets without incurring additional charges. Minister Pandey further informed that arrangements have been made so that air service companies will not sell tickets at the maximum approved fare until the blocked road network is fully operational.

The work of revising the bilateral air service agreement and memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Nepal and France has progressed, he said. Minister Pandey also mentioned that the process of establishing a bilateral air service agreement between Nepal and Indonesia has been initiated. The MoCTCA has formed a probe commission to investigate the crash of Saurya Airlines and has instructed the implementation of recommendations from the preliminary report.

The Tourism Minister stated, "During this period, the Tourism Bill has been submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval to be registered in the Federal Parliament. Casino Regulations and Mountaineering Regulations, 2059, have been submitted to the Cabinet for amendment." Minister Pandey informed that 57 more mountains (ranging from 5,800m to 6,500m) have been opened for climbing in Nepal, and arrangements have been made for mountain climbing and hotel management through the online system under the services of the tourism department.

During this period, the construction of five more kilometres of the Great Himalayan Trail has been completed, and around 200 tourists who were in danger during mountain climbing and trekking have been rescued, the MoCTCA said. Similarly, the Copyright Bill, 2081, has been drafted and submitted to the Policy Research Institute for suggestions, the amendment draft of the Pashupati Area Development Trust Act has been drafted, and the Federal Language Bill and the Museum Bill have been drafted, Minister Pandey said.

By RSS