KATHMANDU, AUGUST 19
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has decided to provide 50 per cent discount on ground handling charges to the international airline companies operating regular flights to and from Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA).
According to CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula, the decision to provide 50 per cent discount on ground handling is aimed at attracting international airline companies to operate their flights from GBIA.
Niraula further informed The Himalayan Times that the CAAN has announced the discount facility, which became effective from Thursday, under the Tourism Revitalisation Action Plan.
Meanwhile, the CAAN has also extended the facility of full discount on airport service charges, including aircraft landing, parking, navigation and security fees for international airline companies operating flights to and from GBIA.
GBIA, Nepal's second international airport, has come into operation from May 16, coinciding with the 2566th birth anniversary of the Buddha.
Built at a cost of $76 million, the Asian Development Bank had contributed $37 million and the OPEC Fund for International Development about $11 million, with the Nepal government chipping in the rest.
CAAN itself has been currently looking at the ground handling at GBIA.
"CAAN had set the service charges for international airlines that landed at GBIA at around $4,000 on each flight," Niraula informed.
Currently, only Jazeera Airlines is operating three flights a week at GBIA.
"A Kuwait-based airline is about to operate seven flights per week at GBIA from September," he said, adding, "Wizz Air, a Hungarian ultra-low-cost carrier is also planning to operate its regular flights at GBIA and Qatar Airways is also keen to expand its services there."
Likewise, such discount on airport services will also be applicable for the Pokhara Regional International Airport, which is scheduled to come into operation from January 1, according to CAAN.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 20, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
