Nepal is in full mood of evolving aviation sector and airports. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is giving its best for enhancing air routes nationally and internationally along with making provisions to c air traffic congestion.
Many countries have started showing interest in operating flights to Nepal recently as Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) is in final phase and Pokhara Regional International Airport is under the rapid construction.
Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen ( Hun Sen in short cut) is likely to arrive Nepal today (Mangsir 13) for visit.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), along with PM Hun Sen, Civil Aviation Minister will be visiting Nepal. Meanwhile, MoCTCA is arranging to make a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nepal and Cambodia for the first time without losing such a great opportunity.
Suresh Acharya, Joint Secretary of MoCTCA stated that if the air service agreement is signed and flights operation is commenced immediately, there would be high chances of signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as well. In the letter of MoU, it will mention number of flights in a week, aircraft, air routes and other related subjects. Acharya said that the agreement can be of a minimum 7 flights to maximum 14 weekly. At the present, MoCTCA is preparing for direct flights between Nepal and Cambodia. Cambodia has shown positive response about air agreement, said Acharya.
Cambodia is a country of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim. If the flight services are started between both countries, it will play major role in the development of Nepal tourism sector.
However, there is a problem in signing air agreement with Australia as Australia has proposed for “Open Sky”. Under the ‘OpenSky’ Agreement, both countries can operate flights to each other’s any airport with any aircraft. Acharya said that due to the condition of our airports, their proposal is really tough to agree.
“ We are interested to make an agreement with Australia, after many Nepalese begun to migrate to Sydney, Melbourne and other cities,” he added.
Just recently a bilateral agreement had been renewed between Nepal and Thailand. The bilateral agreement was renewed on a meeting between the two countries’ representatives in Bangkok on November 2, 2018.
Similarly, Government of Nepal is preparing to sign Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Australia as well as planning to sign revised Air Service Agreement with United Arab Emirate (UAE).
Nepal has signed bilateral ASAs with 38 countries which allow operating 214 flights per day to and from Nepal to various destinations.
