Tourism Minister Pandey bats for improving Nepal's airlines sector

Kathmandu, Oct 25: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has expressed his commitment to improving Nepal Airlines and solving the existing problems in the airline sectors. In a press conference held here on Thursday to share the 100-day achievements of the ministry since the formation of the government, he mentioned that reliable services will be provided by solving the problems seen in Nepal Airlines.     

Minister Pandey said, "The ministry has started an initiative to identify the existing problems in Nepal Airlines and find a long-term solution. We have started the work by forming a committee to make Nepal's civil aviation sector safe and reliable." 

Minister Pandey introduced a bill to consolidate and amend the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and a bill to establish and regulate the Air Services Authority to separate the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal as a regulatory and service provider body.     

He also said that an action plan with concessions and incentives to operate international flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport 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 Gautam Buddha International Airport", Minister Pandey said.     

During this period, the ministry said that the passengers who missed their international flight due to the disruption of the transport service would be able to change the date of the ticket without incurring additional charges. Minister Pandey further informed that an arrangement has been made so that air service companies will not sell tickets of the maximum limit of approved airfare until the blocked road network is fully operational.     

The work of revising the bilateral air service agreement and memorandum of understanding concluded between Nepal and France has been moved forward, he said.

 The minister said that the process of making a bilateral air service agreement between Nepal and Indonesia has been initiated. It is shared that the Ministry has formed a probe commission to investigate the crash of Saurya Airlines and has also given instructions for the implementation of the recommendations received from the preliminary report.     

Minister Pandey said, "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, Mountaineering Regulations, 2059 have been submitted to the Cabinet for amendment.”     

Minister Pandey informed that more 57 mountains (over 5,800 to 6500 meters height) have been opened for climbing in Nepal and mentioned that 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 ministry 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, the Federal Language Bill and the Museum Bill have been drafted, Minister Pandey said.