Kathmandu, December 27:

Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to increase both passenger and cargo flight frequency to 28 flights a week from both the countries, paving path for aspirant airlines for increasing operations.

Following the two-day long review meeting on bilateral air service agreement that concluded here today, the officials signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect. As per the new agreement, the designated airlines of both countries can operate 28 each passenger and cargo flights a week, using any type of aircrafts. The existing ASA grants eight passenger flights and four cargo flights each week from each country.

The civil aviation authorities have agreed to adopt flexible and easy measures for promoting chartered and non-scheduled flights. The new ASA has also specified a provision for fifth freedom rights to the designated airlines, which could be granted following the me-eting of aeronautical authorities of both countries, if required.

Lila Mani Poudel, secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Aysha Al Hamili, deputy chief of General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE government signed the accord on behalf of their respective governments.

“The new provisions in ASA have paved the way for private airlines eyeing for increased frequencies,” said Poudel, adding that the increased direct flights will ultimately contribute to tourism, trade and easy movements. He further said increased direct flights wo-uld benefit thousands of Ne-pali migrant workers in UAE and other Gulf countries.

According to the officials at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Yeti Airlines, a Nepali private operator and RAK Airlines of the UAE have already received sought-permission to operate between Nepal and the UAE. Once in the past, Nepal Airlines Corporation operated direct flights to Dubai from Kathmandu.

The airlines from the UAE used all flights allocated to their country under the existing ASA. In addition, Air Arabia has been operating two more flights as per the government’s interim policy that allows all international airlines flying to Nepal to add four flights each week until December.

Etihad Airways conducts four-weekly services on Kathmandu-Abu Dhabi route and Air Arabia

six flights on Kathmandu-Sharjah route.