The government has approved the Tourism Ministry’s proposal to review the air service agreement (ASA) with northern neighbour.
“The Cabinet has given approval ‘in principle’ for the Tourism Ministry’s proposal to revise the air service agreement with China,” according to minister for Communication and Information Technology and spokesperson of government Gokul Prasad Baskota.
Informing the government decision in the weekly press briefing today, he said that high-level delegation from the two countries are scheduled to meet in Beijing on July 25. “The Cabinet has allowed the ministry to form a five-member team led by tourism joint secretary to hold discussion,” he said, adding that Nepal has sought access to all Chinese airports and China has proposed to increase flight frequencies to Nepal. “Nepal will ask China to allow Nepali carriers to fly to different Chinese cities.”
Currently, six Chinese carriers including Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Sichuan Airlines, Cathay Dragon and Tibet Airlines operate flights to Nepal. But no Nepali carriers are allowed to fly to China. The national flag carrier used to operate a service to Osaka, Japan via Shanghai until 2008 under fifth freedom rights.
The existing ASA allows up to 70 flights per week but Chinese carriers want the new agreement to allow more flights as travel demand is constantly going up also because the agreed frequency has been consumed.
The Chinese side has requested to increase flight frequencies, according to the Tourism Ministry that added that the frequency, however, will depend on the negotiations that will take place on July 25. “The Chinese aircraft can also fly to new airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara, except Kathmandu.
Though, Nepali carriers are currently allowed to fly to 7 destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Lhasa and Xi'an, China has not yet approved Nepal’s request.
In 2015, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) applied for landing permission at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, but China has not yet approved the request.
Earlier, Nepal and China had signed a revised bilateral air services agreement in February 2014, permitting the operation of 56 flights per week with any type of aircraft on a reciprocal basis. The agreement allowed each country to increase the flight frequency to 70 per week by 2016. Under the old agreement, Chinese airlines were allowed to operate 14 flights per week.
“The Cabinet has given approval ‘in principle’ for the Tourism Ministry’s proposal to revise the air service agreement with China,” according to minister for Communication and Information Technology and spokesperson of government Gokul Prasad Baskota.
Informing the government decision in the weekly press briefing today, he said that high-level delegation from the two countries are scheduled to meet in Beijing on July 25. “The Cabinet has allowed the ministry to form a five-member team led by tourism joint secretary to hold discussion,” he said, adding that Nepal has sought access to all Chinese airports and China has proposed to increase flight frequencies to Nepal. “Nepal will ask China to allow Nepali carriers to fly to different Chinese cities.”
Currently, six Chinese carriers including Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Sichuan Airlines, Cathay Dragon and Tibet Airlines operate flights to Nepal. But no Nepali carriers are allowed to fly to China. The national flag carrier used to operate a service to Osaka, Japan via Shanghai until 2008 under fifth freedom rights.
The existing ASA allows up to 70 flights per week but Chinese carriers want the new agreement to allow more flights as travel demand is constantly going up also because the agreed frequency has been consumed.
The Chinese side has requested to increase flight frequencies, according to the Tourism Ministry that added that the frequency, however, will depend on the negotiations that will take place on July 25. “The Chinese aircraft can also fly to new airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara, except Kathmandu.
Though, Nepali carriers are currently allowed to fly to 7 destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Lhasa and Xi'an, China has not yet approved Nepal’s request.
In 2015, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) applied for landing permission at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, but China has not yet approved the request.
Earlier, Nepal and China had signed a revised bilateral air services agreement in February 2014, permitting the operation of 56 flights per week with any type of aircraft on a reciprocal basis. The agreement allowed each country to increase the flight frequency to 70 per week by 2016. Under the old agreement, Chinese airlines were allowed to operate 14 flights per week.
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