KATHMANDU, MAY 26
Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale has requested European Ambassador to Nepal Nona Deprez to lift ban on Nepal from the EU's safety list.
A discussion was held between Minister Ale and Ambassador Deprez regarding the matter at the ministry today, according to the minister's personal secretary Manoj Adhikari.
Minister Ale reminded the EU ambassador that Nepal's aviation sector was safe now.
He further said Nepal's score was 70.1 per cent on implementation of safety in eight categories set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which Minister Ale argued, was above average.
"Nepali aviation is safe as per the ICAO's indicators.
Now, the EU is requested to lift the ban on Nepal's aviation," he underscored.
The EU had blacklisted Nepal's aviation sector reasoning poor safety eight years ago. However, the ICAO has already lifted the ban on Nepal with its improved safety indicators. The EU had demanded further qualification and training of Nepali pilots to meet international standard.
On the occasion, Director General at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, engineer Pradip Kumar Adhikari informed the ambassador that Nepal had managed training and qualification of pilots in line with the international criteria.
Currently, Nepal Airlines, Buddha Air and Himalaya Airlines are ready for international flights and are awaiting the EU's nod.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 27, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
