Kathmandu, April 19:

All domestic airlines are set to suspend their operations on April 20 as a symbol of solidarity with the ongoing agitation of seven parties across the country.

The decision to close down domestic airlines’ operations was taken at an exclusive meeting held yesterday between the Airline Operators’ Association of Nepal (AOAN), domestic airline operators, Nepal Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC and leader of CPN (UML) Subash Nemwang, says an airline official on the condition of anonymity.

Even after the agitation having entered its second week, the domestic airlines are airlifting medicines into the Kathmandu valley, informed an airlines official. There is an understanding between airline operators and political leaders not to extend the ‘closure of operations’ further.

The closure of domestic airlines in support of a political movement is the first of its kind recorded in the international aviation history, said the airlines official.

Sharad Pradhan, director of Yeti Airlines (YA) talking to The Himalayan Times informed that there will be no flights tomorrow on the domestic front. He said that YA alone ferries about 500 passengers on routes such as Pokhara, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Bhadrapur. YA alone is losing business worth over Rs17,50,000 that gets generated by the sale of tickets.