The preparatory works to re-launch flights to Japan after 10 year long wait is coming to an end as both country are in final process to sign the revised Air Service Agreement (ASA) today at Kathmandu.
Foreign minister of Japan Mr. Taro Kono will be visiting Nepal today (9th January) evening and is expected to sign on revising the ASA agreement during the process.
The Japanese minister is coming to Nepal at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and will be in official visit for couple of days stated Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal.
During the visit, Mr. Kono is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on the Rt. Hon. President Mrs. Bidhya Devi Bhandari and the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli.
Mr. Kone will also hold delegation-level bilateral talks with Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali today in which signing of revised ASA is expected. The meeting will be followed by joint press briefing.
The meeting is expected to enhance cooperation between the two countries for regional stability and development and help Nepal for Tourism year 2020 in Nepal and easy access to japan for Nepali as well as Nepali Olympics and Paralympics team for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
On Tuesday, a Japan Airlines aircraft landed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) that has been expected to have brought some Japanese officials as well as security personnels.
Previously, the agreement has been made between Japan and Nepal to permit Nepali carriers to operate flights in all airports except Haneda in Tokyo. The bilateral air agreement between Japan and Nepal conducted on the first week of June has been reviewed which allowed both nation to operate 14-14 flights. Apart from the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation from Nepal, the government has allowed other carrier to allow flight from 14 flights and such rules apply to Japan too.
After being unable to operate flights at the airport of Haneda, now the best option is Narita International Airport. The national flag carrier used to fly to Osaka via Shanghai until 2008 when it was forced to suspend the route due to lack of aircraft.
NAC has already started preparation for flights to Japan the airlines country manager has already been appointed who stated that NAC will operate to Japan in around a month.
Allotting 400 weekly seats, Nepal and Japan had signed the BASA on February 17, 1993. Before the suspension of the national flag carrier on the route due to lack of aircraft, it used to fly to Osaka via Shanghai till 2008.
