Though, the northern neighbour has not yet allowed Nepali aircraft to fly to its cities till date, China has again agreed to designate eight new destinations for Nepali airlines, in addition of existing seven.
According to a press release issued by Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, both the countries today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ensuring Nepali aircraft to fly to eight additional destinations will be specified by Nepal at its own discretion.
According to the press release, the deal was reached during a two-day meeting between the representatives of the aeronautical authorities of Nepal and China earlier today.
Though Nepal has not been given slot to fly to China, Nepal can currently also fly its carriers to seven destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu and Xi’an. China has been currently operating 56 flights to Nepal per week. The Nepali side – during the meeting – urged the Chinese side to extend necessary support and assistance to Nepali airlines to operate flights to destinations in China as currently there are no flights originating from Nepal to mainland China.
“The Chinese side responded positively and agreed to extend necessary support and facilitation to Nepali airlines," the press release reads, adding that the two sides – revising the Air Service Agreement (ASA) – also agreed to raise the frequency of flights to 98 flights per week from each country, from the existing 70 flights, according to previous agreement of last five years.
“For flights operated by China-designated airlines, some 21 out of the agreed number of frequencies will be reserved for Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) and Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), and will come into effect once those airports come into operation.”
Nepal Airlines Cooperation used to operate few flights a week before 2007. However, it discontinued because of decrease in number of aircrafts with the corporation. But Nepal and China has revised the ASA without providing any assurance of allowing Nepal Airlines Corporation to fly in Chinese skies. The Chinese aviation authority has prevented the national flag carrier from flying to Chinese cities citing ‘safety concerns’ raised by the European Union (EU).
However, the Chinese side also agreed to expedite the process of issuing authorisation of Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, which have applied to operate flights between Kathmandu to Guangzhou and Beijing. Though Chinese authorities have agreed to allow NAC to operate flights on Kathmandu-Guangzhou route, the national flag carrier will first need to meet the criteria of the safety audit to be conducted by China.
A team from Civil Aviation Administration of China will come to Kathmandu in October for the safety audit, which will determine whether NAC is permitted to operate flights to China. If NAC fails the test, it won’t be allowed to fly to Guangzhou or any other city of China.
The meeting led by joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Suresh Acharya and deputy director general of Civil Aviation Administration of China Bai Wenli also reached an understanding that after the development of adequate technical facilities at Gunsa Airport in Tibet, flights of Nepali airlines would be allowed to land there while circumnavigating Mt Kailash as part of the mountain flight. They also agreed to explore opportunities in the field of civil aviation between the two countries through joint collaboration. “Both the sides agreed to intensify mutual co-operation on promoting bilateral connectivity and to further utilise and expand the opportunities in the civil aviation sector between the two countries through joint collaboration,” the release reads.
China has opened Nepal as a tourist destination from 2002. Currently, Chinese tourists visiting Nepal are the second highest after Indians.
According to a press release issued by Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, both the countries today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ensuring Nepali aircraft to fly to eight additional destinations will be specified by Nepal at its own discretion.
According to the press release, the deal was reached during a two-day meeting between the representatives of the aeronautical authorities of Nepal and China earlier today.
Though Nepal has not been given slot to fly to China, Nepal can currently also fly its carriers to seven destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu and Xi’an. China has been currently operating 56 flights to Nepal per week. The Nepali side – during the meeting – urged the Chinese side to extend necessary support and assistance to Nepali airlines to operate flights to destinations in China as currently there are no flights originating from Nepal to mainland China.
“The Chinese side responded positively and agreed to extend necessary support and facilitation to Nepali airlines," the press release reads, adding that the two sides – revising the Air Service Agreement (ASA) – also agreed to raise the frequency of flights to 98 flights per week from each country, from the existing 70 flights, according to previous agreement of last five years.
“For flights operated by China-designated airlines, some 21 out of the agreed number of frequencies will be reserved for Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) and Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), and will come into effect once those airports come into operation.”
Nepal Airlines Cooperation used to operate few flights a week before 2007. However, it discontinued because of decrease in number of aircrafts with the corporation. But Nepal and China has revised the ASA without providing any assurance of allowing Nepal Airlines Corporation to fly in Chinese skies. The Chinese aviation authority has prevented the national flag carrier from flying to Chinese cities citing ‘safety concerns’ raised by the European Union (EU).
However, the Chinese side also agreed to expedite the process of issuing authorisation of Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, which have applied to operate flights between Kathmandu to Guangzhou and Beijing. Though Chinese authorities have agreed to allow NAC to operate flights on Kathmandu-Guangzhou route, the national flag carrier will first need to meet the criteria of the safety audit to be conducted by China.
A team from Civil Aviation Administration of China will come to Kathmandu in October for the safety audit, which will determine whether NAC is permitted to operate flights to China. If NAC fails the test, it won’t be allowed to fly to Guangzhou or any other city of China.
The meeting led by joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Suresh Acharya and deputy director general of Civil Aviation Administration of China Bai Wenli also reached an understanding that after the development of adequate technical facilities at Gunsa Airport in Tibet, flights of Nepali airlines would be allowed to land there while circumnavigating Mt Kailash as part of the mountain flight. They also agreed to explore opportunities in the field of civil aviation between the two countries through joint collaboration. “Both the sides agreed to intensify mutual co-operation on promoting bilateral connectivity and to further utilise and expand the opportunities in the civil aviation sector between the two countries through joint collaboration,” the release reads.
China has opened Nepal as a tourist destination from 2002. Currently, Chinese tourists visiting Nepal are the second highest after Indians.
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