KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 24

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has decided to withhold Korean Air flights to and from Nepal for the winter season 2023-24 from October 29 onwards.

The authority decided to suspend flights of Korean Air following violation of terms and conditions of the bilateral air service agreement between Nepal and Korea, signed in 2001 and later amended in 2004 following a delay in granting the operating authorisation of the Nepali flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation under the pretext of safety reasons and creating a monopoly scenario.

According to CAAN, Korean Air as the only service provider in the Kathmandu-Seoul route, charges high rates, ultimately promoting non-competitiveness and syndication. At present, Korean Air operates four flights a week from Korea.

As per the bilateral air agreement between Nepal and Korea, air service companies of both countries will be able to serve 41,000 passengers a year at a rate of 800 per week. Although Korean Air has been flying to Nepal for a few years, the NAC has not received authorisation from the Korean Office of Civil Aviation to operate regular flights to Seoul. According to Jagannath Niraula, spokesperson for CAAN, although NAC has been talking to Korean authorities for flights to Seoul, the KOCA has not given approval citing various reasons.

'Similarly, the flight rates are too expensive for air travellers. Following the suspension, other companies will come forward to conduct connecting flights, which may be even cheaper than what it is now. While the authority has not approved summer schedule for Korean Air, the suspension will be effective from October 29 to not affect travellers who have already booked flights with the company,' he said.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times