Carriers allowed to run extra flights during NTY
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KATHMANDU, JAN 19 -
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has allowed international airlines serving Nepal to operate additional flights during 2011 in view of the projected rise in arrivals during the Nepal Tourism Year campaign which has aimed to bring one million tourists.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the ministry decided on Jan. 13 to permit the carriers to increase their frequency by up to seven flights per week. The extra flights are based on the temporary operating permit (TOP) which is applicable to scheduled online international airlines and will be valid till the end of 2011. The additional flights will be approved only during lean hours.
“As per the TOP, each country will be allowed to add up to seven flights per week,” said Amar Bahadur Shakya, director, airlines affairs department, CAAN.
The ministry has directed CAAN to inform the aviation authorities of all the countries which have signed an air service agreement (ASA) with Nepal about the new provision. Nepal has signed ASAs with 36 countries.
“The ministry took the decision to allow additional flights as there was insufficient time to amend the ASAs,” said Suresh Acharya, joint secretary of the Tourism Ministry.
Presently, 27 international airlines are serving the country. Nepal is targeting at least 700,000 arrivals by air in 2011 which will require an additional 1.40 million roundtrip seats. “Nepal has targeted one million tourists during Nepal Tourism Year, and the goal shows that demand for air seats will swell enormously,” said TIA general manager Dinesh Shrestha.
TIA currently handles up to 50-60 international flights daily while its capacity is 35-40 flights. Around 3,000 passengers now pass through the airport per hour which was designed to handle 1,350 passengers per hour.
Eight international airlines added Nepal to their network during the years 2009 and 2010.
Posted on: 2011-01-19 09:21
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