Qatar Airways resumes three weekly flights from Nepal

 Qatar Airways has announced that it has resumed three weekly flights from Kathmandu to various other destinations from September 5 following the government’s decision to ease restrictions on international flights.

The airlines – issuing a press note today – said two state-of-the art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and Airbus A320 aircraft will resume flights to connect Nepal with other countries, in line with government’s guidelines. 

According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepali citizens, United Nations, specialised organisations, development partners and diplomatic staffs working in Nepal are allowed to travel to Kathmandu. “All passengers must have a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours of scheduled flight time and must have completed an online entry form,” the press note reads.

Nepal continues suspension of flights until July 5

Nepal has extended – for the seventh time – suspension of domestic and international flights until July 5.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation today confirmed that all domestic and international flights will remain suspended until July 5. “All domestic and international flights will remain suspended until July 5,” tourism secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari tweeted.
The government first imposed the nationwide lockdown on March 24 and suspended domestic and international commercial flights to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19. And the government has been extending the suspension to contain the spread of Covid-19 that has claimed 19 till today.
Nepal today reported one more Covid-19 death and 425 new cases, taking the national tally to 5,760, and death toll to 19 as a 36-year-old man from Gulmi, who was undergoing treatment at an isolation facility in Resunga Municipality, succumbed to the disease on June 13,” according to the spokesperson of Health Ministry Dr Jageshwor Gautam. Addressing a regular press meet today, he said, adding that that the deceased was receiving treatment after tests conducted at the Provincial Public Health Laboratory in Rupandehi showed him positive for Covid-19. His travel history revealed that he had returned from India and was also a cancer patient.

AOAN demands reduction of aviation fuel price

The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has demanded the government to reduce the price of aviation fuel for the domestic air service.
As the government is preparing to resume domestic flights that have been suspended since March 22 due to fear of Covid-19 transmission while traveling, the operators have today asked – issuing a press note – the government to revise the price of aviation fuel downwards.
“As the government has asked to operate the flights maintaining the physical distance, the flights will have only half passenger,” the association said, adding that flying with half the seat-capacity of the aircraft will not be possible. The association has also suggested the Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to lobby for letting aircraft operate as per their capacity, make arrangements so that air crew do not have to be quarantined in the destination, let taxi and other public vehicles along with hotels and restaurants operate.
Likewise, the association has suggested the government to start operation of domestic flights – in phases – starting from July 1. “In the first phase, the flights to the mountainous districts should be operated,” the association recommended, whereas flights to the Terai region should be started in the second phase. “The dates will be, though, fixed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the domestic carriers are ready to start operation, provided, the government reduce aviation fuel price.”
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has priced aviation fuel – popularly known as aviation turbine fuel (ATF) – at Rs 65 per liter, whereas the price of fossil fuel has decreased in recent months. The state oil monopoly has not revised the fuel prices since last couple of months as the government has imposed lock down to contain the spread of coronavirus (covid-19). The NOC fixes price according to the price reference set by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) that send the price list every fortnight.
The association has also suggested the government to sell aviation fuel with only Rs 10 profit per liter for NOC to make the airline service accessible and beneficial. “If the aviation fuel’s price is not revised downwards, the operators will not be able to operate air service,” the association clarified.
Though, the government has – in the budget for fiscal year 2020-21 – announced the exemption of infrastructure development charge on aviation fuel and removal of customs duty, the price of aviation fuel still is higher based on the revised price list sent by the IOC.

International flights to remain suspended until April end

The government today extended the suspension of all international flights to Nepal until April 30 as a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19, popularly known as coronavirus.
The High-level Coordination Committee on Prevention and Control of Covid-19 – led by deputy prime minister Ishwar Pokharel – decided to extend the ban due to rising number of coronavirus cases across the world, and also Nepal. “Today’s meeting decided to extend the suspension of all the international flights till April 30,” confirmed secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Narayan Bidari, after the meeting.
Earlier on March 20 the government had decided to suspend all international flights from March 22 to March 31 due to increasing case of coronavirus cases across the world. “The suspension was later extended until April 15,” Bidari, who is also a member secretary of the High-level Coordination Committee, reminded, adding that the government has not taken any decision regarding the domestic flights. “The domestic flights have been suspended until April 15, and the decision will be taken later.”
However rescue flights have been carried out to fly out foreigners stranded in Nepal and also to bring in medical supplies.
The government has yesterday extended the nationwide lockdown until April 15 to contain the spread of the coronavirus that has entered into the stage 2.
Nepal so far has reported nine Covid-19 cases, including one local transmission – which has taken the country into the stage 2 of the pandemic – according to the Ministry of Health and Population. 

Himalaya Airlines starts flights on Kathmandu-Changsha route

Himalaya Airlines launched its service connecting Kathmandu to Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan province, from today.
As the Nepal-China joint venture international airline explores its new markets before the Visit Nepal Year 2020, it aims at promoting and capturing the outbound tourism potential of the province into Nepal, according to vice president – Administration Vijay Shrestha.
“With the new service, Nepalis will have a convenient, economical and direct connection to explore this new destination in China,” the airlines said, adding that it introduced its newest flight route between Kathmandu and Changsha, after Guiyang.
Himalaya Airlines flies every Wednesday from Kathmandu to Changsha and back, it adds.
The maiden flight today departed from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 11:03 hours and touched down Changsha Huanghua International Airport (CSX) at 17:19 hours (local time). The return flight departed from CSX at 18:28 hours (local time) and touched down TIA at 21:23 hours on the same day.
“Apart from Beijing and Guiyang, we believe Kathmandu needs more connectivity to other cities of China; in order to take optimum advantage of China’s travel potential,” Shrestha said, adding that the new route will strengthen the Nepal-China connectivity.
China has also placed Nepal as a new leisure destination, which is one of the driving reasons for increased Chinese visitors into Nepal over the past few years.
Himalaya Airlines president Zhou Enyoung, on the occasion, shared that the increasing presence of the airlines in China by adding Guiyang and Changsha in addition to its existing Beijing flights will help develop Himalaya network, offering customers new routes and more robust year-round schedules.

Airlines add flights to ease festive commute

Domestic airline companies have increased flights to facilitate festive commuters.
According to Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), the airline companies have increased flights to destinations where the flow is comparatively higher. “Airline companies have increased the number of flights to various destinations as per the demand of the public,” AOAN spokesperson Yog Raj Kandel said, adding that the passengers have been complaining that they are facing hassles in obtaining air tickets, thus additional flights will ensure availability of air tickets during Dashain festival. “The airline companies have increased up to 50 per cent flights to various destinations depending on the flow of passengers.”
The flow of air passengers during Dashain has gone up significantly in recent years forcing the airline companies to add flight frequency also due to bad road conditions. This year too, the airline companies are ready to further add more flights in Dashain, if required, he said.
However, the passenger occupancy in flights from Kathmandu to various destinations is almost 100 per centbut occupancy in the flights to Kathmandu is less than 20 per cent due to out flow of people from Kathmandu to their respective home districts. It is expected that almost 2.5 million people will leave Kathmandu during Dashain festival. According to the Traffic Police, almost 1.5 million people have already left the valley till today.
Likewise, transport entrepreneurs have also added vehicles on routes where the flow of passengers is higher.
According to general secretary at the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Saroj Sitaula, they have added the buses on long and short routes to cater to the urgency of the passengers to reach home for festival. The Department of Transport Management has also opened all land routes for all public vehicles across the country.

Airlines offer 10 per cent festive discount

Domestic carriers affiliated to Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) offered a discount of 10 per cent on base fare targeting the festive season.
Issuing a press note today, the AOAN has announced 10 per cent discount on airfare during the festive season – Dashain, Tihar and Chhath – from September 29 to November 3. The AOAN has brought the discount offer to provide some relief to passengers, according to the association. “However, the discount is not applicable to airport tax and fuel surcharge amount as the base fare does not include fuel surcharge and airport tax.”
The passengers have to purchase their tickets from the ticket counters of the concerned airline companies to get the discount offer, the press note reads, adding that the discount is not available for tickets purchased from general sales agents (GSA) of the airlines. “The discount will be provided to Nepali passengers only and not the foreign passengers.”
The discount offer is offered by the member airline companies of AOAN including Buddha Air, Saurya Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Air, Yeti Airlines, Simrik Airlines and Tara Air. The association has 15 member airlines. Ten of them are helicopter operators.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation is, however, preparing to provide 50 per cent discount on airfare for passengers above 70 years.
The airline operators also confirmed that passengers will not face shortage of air tickets as most of the airlines have expanded their fleet this year. Likewise, the AOAN has also said that chopper operators will be available for search and rescue flights even during the festival season.

Kathmandu Airport to be closed for seven hours daily for repairs from Sunday

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will be closed for seven hours daily for the second phase of airport rehabilitation – to restore the taxiway – from Sunday.
From January, the only international airport plans to open 24-7 for the first time since its operation in 1949, according to general manager of the airport Raj Kumar Chettri.
The airport will reduce operations until four months to December 31 – from 11:30 pm to 6:30 am the next day – as it has already asked the international airlines to reschedule their flights. But the airport will be opened exclusively for half an hour for Nepal Airlines flight to Osaka in Japan bypassing the time-sensitive ‘notice to airmen’ period during which the crucial second-phase of taxiway construction will be ongoing.
The 1,950-metre-long parallel taxiway that has been experiencing problems in its pavement, primarily rutting has now been covered with a new layer of asphalt. “Taxiway rehabilitation, taxiway-runway link road rehabilitation, and installation of runway centreline light will be carried out under the second phase,” he said, adding that the TIA will open for 24 hours, after the renovation of the taxiway is completed. “The runway and taxiway are being renovated in a Rs 3.78-billion project.”
China’s state-owned enterprise China National Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation has received the rehabilitation contract.
TIA sees some 400 flights, including 100 international flights, per day. The international airport’s runway was built in 1975. Runways of international airports, as per the international standard, should be refurbished with the use of new bitumen every 10 years but it took TIA some four decade to do the same. According to the data, the TIA handled some 7.19 million passengers last year. There were a total of 129,511 flights over Nepali skies – some 74 per cent of them domestic flights – creating congestion in the sky and on the ground.
For the last seven years, aircraft weighing more than 196 tonnes have been barred from the airport to prevent damage to the runway as it had been frequent occurrences of cracks in the pavement.
The 1,143 metres long runway of TIA was extended to 2,011 metres in 1967 and again extended in 1975 to 3,050 metres. Earlier the international airport was closed partially for the rehabilitation of runway, during the first stage of rehabilitation to renovate works on the 3,050-metre-long runway. The TIA had been shut down for 10 hours a day from April 1 for a period of three months to June 30, and is currently in operation for 21 hours daily.
Likewise, the pavement strengthening of the runway and taxiway was last conducted in 1995.

Finland proposes ASA with Nepal

Finland has proposed signing a bilateral air service agreement (ASA) with Nepal.
The Finnair – the national flag carrier and largest airline of Finland that is headquartered in Vantaa on the premises of Helsinki Airport – has shown interest in operating direct flights to Kathmandu. A flight between Kathmandu and Helsinki is estimated to take around nine hours.
The government has received a formal proposal from the Finnish government to sign an ASA some three weeks ago, following talks with Finnair officials and the Finnish ambassador to Nepal. “Though it is in initial phase, we have been working on the proposal accordingly,” informed the Tourism Ministry.
The agreement is expected to be completed by July, after the ASA document is prepared and both the countries approve it.
Since, the number of Nepalis including students living in the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – is growing, though the Nepali airlines have not been able to fly to neither Europe nor Nordic countries as the European Commission has imposed ban on all airlines from Nepal to fly on the European sky in December 2013. The European Commission (EC) – the 28-nation bloc – had asked European operators and travel agents to inform European travellers who will have a right to reimbursement if they have booked a seat on a Nepali carrier as part of a journey to Nepal and decide not to use it. Nepal has been removed from the air safety list of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) but the European Commission has continued its ban on all Nepali airlines.
Nepal has signed ASA with 39 countries since 1963. Currently, 28 international airlines fly to Nepal from various destinations.

Himalaya Airlines extends its network to Abu Dhabi

Himalaya Airlines – an international air carrier – is starting thrice-weekly flights from the hub in Kathmandu to a thriving and bustling city, Abu Dhabi. The new service is a part of the airline’s commitment to boost the connectivity of Nepal with Middle-East countries, reads a press note issued by the company.
The inaugural flight H9 567 departed from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 21:30 hours (local time) and touched down at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) at 00:53 hours (local time) carrying a total of 148 passengers. The return flight from Abu Dhabi H9 568 departed at 02:31+ 1 (local time) on April 1, 2019 and landed at TIA at 08:41 hrs (local time) carrying a total of 150 passengers. Himalaya Airlines has appointed Fishtail Travel and Tourism as their GSA for UAE.
The new flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday with Airbus A320-214 narrow body aircraft, configured with 8-seat in Premium Economy Class and 150 in Economy Class. The flight schedule has been timed evenly throughout the week to provide a mix of weekend, short stay and business travel options.
“We are excited to launch the direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kathmandu," said vice president of administration at the airlines Vijay Shrestha.
There is a strong demand from both markets for a direct operation on the route, and we have responded to this increasing customer requirement.Commercial and cultural links between the UAE and Nepal are flourishing and Himalaya is honoured to play a pivotal role in facilitating and enhancing the growth of trade and tourism between the two countries, he said, adding that the airlines hopes the new connectivity will further boost traffic from the UAE. "Himalaya Airlines is on the verge of completing its third year of successful commercial operations soon and we are pleased to add Abu Dhabi into H9 network."
Abu Dhabi is the capital and the second most populous city of the UAE, which focuses on oil exports and commerce.
Established in August 2014, a Nepal-China joint venture Himalaya Airlines is a private airline of Nepal providing international air services. Currently, Himalaya Airlines network consists of four destinations, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Dammam adding Abu Dhabi as the fifth one. The airline owns 3 Airbus A320-214 series of narrow-body aircraft with the configuration of 8 Premium Economy class and 150 Economy class seats. The airline plans to focus on China connectivity by adding up Beijing to its destination network and eventually extending to other cities like Nanchang, Wuhan, Changsha, and Nanning.

Domestic airline companies issue travel alert for passengers

Domestic airlines today issued a travel alert as the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will remain shut for 10 hours from tomorrow evening for runway rehabilitation and expansion work. The only international airport that also houses the domestic one will remain closed from 10pm to 8am every day for 45 days till June 30 for maintenance. Based on a notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued by the TIA, the domestic airline companies have issued a travel alert about the changes in their flight schedule for the convenience of the passengers.
Due to NOTAM, Yeti Airlines and Tara Air – owned by the same group – reduced some 13 flights a day including six mountain flights in the morning. "Apart from mountain flights, one regular flight to Bhairahawa, Tumlingtar and Bharatpur each has also been reduced till the next notice is issued," the airliner stated a press note. "Likewise, two flights to each to Bharatpur and Pokhara have also been reduced from the regular schedule."
Likewise, Buddha Air also issued a travel alert last week – on March 26 – revising the time schedule for flights. "Currently we are not planning to reduce the number of regular flights," marketing director of Buddha Air Rupesh Joshi said, adding that they will not cut down the flight numbers, if rescheduling flights help maintain the schedule. "If necessary, we will also reduce few flights, though we are trying to reschedule as much flights."
Simrik Air has also already issued its travel alert – a month back – cancelling its pre-booked flights to Lukla.
Meanwhile, almost all mountain flights from Kathmandu have been cancelled for the coming 45 days, whereas all flights to Lukla airport from TIA have been diverted to the Manthali airport of Ramechhap.
The TIA’s runway was built in 1975. Though, according to international practice, runways of international airports should be refurbished with new bitumen every 10 years, the TIA has never done that. A Chinese company – China National Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation – is working on the project.

TIA to remain shut for 10 hours daily from Monday

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will remain shut for 10 hours per day from Monday for the biggest maintenance work of the runway since its construction almost five decades ago.
The construction work on the tarmac of the only international airport in the country will continue from 10 pm to 8 am everyday for 45 days, according to the TIA. The TIA spokesperson Pratap Babu Tiwari said that at least 15 per cent of the flights would be affected by the project. "Due to the maintenance, Cathay Dragon, China Southern, Malaysia Airlines, Jet Airways and Qatar Airways will have to reschedule their flights, as they currently operate flights between 10 pm and 8 am," he said, adding that the TIA has already given different time slots to conduct flights for those airlines until the maintenance completes.
According to TIA general manager Raj Kumar Chhetri, currently, TIA handles around 400 flights, including 100 international flights, every day. According to the international standard, runways of international airports should be refurbished with the use of new bitumen every 10 years. TIA’s runway was built in 1975. TIA, however, has never done that, he added.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has employed China’s state-owned enterprise China National Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation to complete the runway and taxiway rehabilitation work. It signed an agreement with the Chinese company on November 5, 2018. The ‘most critical project’ –  that has been planned at the airport till date – will cost Rs 3.78 billion. The construction company has already started collecting necessary materials to renovate The 3,050-metre-long dilapidated runway and taxiway.
In the first phase, the Chinese company will blacktop 3000m runway. The company will complete the work in 45 days, although the CAAN has given it a 70-day deadline. But it will take around 18 months to rehabilitate the taxiway. The project is scheduled to be completed on June 30.
A study conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in 2014 concluded that the runway at the country’s sole international airport was not strong enough to handle wide-body jets due to its ageing asphalt foundation, and distress is caused to the upper surface instantly when heavy planes land on it. Repeated occurrences of cracks on the runway have been affecting smooth operation of aircraft since 2011.
The congested TIA has handled 7.19 million passengers last year. There were a total of 129,511 flights over the Nepali skies – last year – of  which 74 per cent of them domestic flights.
Due to extreme pressure following frequent cracks in the pavement that have raised safety concerns, the TIA has been forced to improve the runway. For the last seven years, aircraft weighing more than 196 tonnes have been barred from TIA to prevent further damage to the runway. "Last monsoon, the runway has developed cracks more than 30 times," according to airlines.

Shree Airlines operates proven flight to Biratnagar

Domestic carrier Shree Airlines has – after a long wait – operated its first proving flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar today. Shree Airlines operated its 50-seater CRJ 200 with callsign 9N-AMA for its proving flight.
The airline – the largest helicopter operator in the country – is preparing to begin fixed-wing operations. It has already acquired three aircraft – two 50-seater Bombardier CRJ 200s and one 70-seater CRJ-700 – to start commercial passenger service. However, according to civil aviation rules, it has to conduct a proving flight to get Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).
According to Shree Airlines corporate manager Anil Manandhar the proving flight was operated to fulfill the requirements of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). "Now, the inspection team of CAAN, which was on board the proving flight, will submit its report to the aviation sector regulator within two or three days," he said, adding that the CAAN will take a decision on AOC based on the report.
The airlines is expecting CAAN to issue AOC by next week. “Once we get AOC, we will start scheduled flights immediately after we get AOC,” Manandhar added.
Shree Airlines is planning to operate scheduled flights to five destinations; Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. It also plans to operate mountain flights offering affordable fares and promising a safe and pleasing experience to the passengers.
Shree Airlines is the largest helicopter operator in the country, operating a fleet of Mi-17 and AS 350 B3e helicopters.