KATHMANDU, AUGUST 18
Nepal's commercial airlines industry has asked the government to amend the aviation policy for enhancement of the country's aviation business which has suffered a loss topping 10 billion rupees post COVID-19 pandemic.
Submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today, owners of the major domestic airlines have also demanded that the government recognise civil aviation as one of the country's industries of priority by exempting different taxes.
On behalf of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa from Yeti/Tara Airlines, Birendra Bahadur Basnyat from Buddha Air, AOAN's President Manoj Karki from Summit Air and AOAN's first vice-president Pratap jung Panday from Kailash Helicopters reached PM's office to submit a 12-point memorandum.
"PM Oli should take special initiatives to remove the infamous ban imposed by the European Union on Nepali airlines from operating in European skies," the memorandum reads.
The airliners also asked the PM to amend existing aviation policy to facilitate for the smooth air operations.
The AOAN also asked the PM to make necessary arrangement for the operation of helicopter services from Tribhuvan International Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal had recently restricted helicopters from operating from TIA after building a new heliport at Nalinchowk, Bhakptapur.
The demand also includes the reduction of custom duty to 1 per cent on spare parts the airlines import from abroad. "The government needs to adjust ATF prices aligning with international market trends," the document obtained by THT states.
The airlines also remained adamant on different airfares fixed for domestic and international passengers. "We can't have equal fare for both national and foreign passengers travelling in the country," the memorandum said.
Review of the existing airfare is the need of the hour, the operators said, adding that the procedural ambiguities should be eased to operate flights in the restricted zones. The memorandum states that the existing policies mainly hampered airlines' efforts to conduct emergency rescue evacuation in Solukhumbu, Dhading, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Gorkha and Dolakha districts.
The operators also slammed CAAN for not providing weather updates to the airlines despite charging a huge sum in the name of airport service tax. "All taxes being levied by CAAN should be reduced by 50 per cent for at least two years," the memorandum adds. The operators said that they would leave no stone unturned to ensure air safety in the country.
In response, PM Oli said that he would try his best to address the AOAN's demand. "Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will immediately form a mechanism to study and address the operators' concerns," the operators quoted PM Oli as saying.
