Biratnagar, September 14:

Air passengers have been facing difficulties as airlines operating flights from Biratnagar to the capital have been compelled to cancel many of their flights as an instrument called Very High Frequency Omni Directional Range (VOR), which detects direction of planes, is not working.

“Passengers have been facing difficulties as the flights to the capital are not regular,” chairperson of the Biratnagar Travel Agents, Bhabeshwor Shrestha, said.

“We have not been able to provide regular service to the air passengers due to carelessness of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN),” station manager of the Yeti Airlines in Biratnagar Prem Kunwar said.

Agents of different airlines blamed the authority concerned for not acting though the VOR stopped functioning a month ago.

The Yeti Airlines, which used to operate 17 flights daily, is operating just seven flights, while the Buddha Air, which used to operate 14 flights daily, is operating just six flights, a source at the CAAN said.

Chief of the CAAN Biratnagar, Yogendra Raut, said that the airlines will not be allowed to operate flights at night until the VOR is repaired. There is a need to install a new VOR as the old one, which was brought from France 15 years ago, will not function even after repairing, Raut said. A team led by engineer Uddham Singh of the CAAN central office has arrived here to conduct a study for the same.