An umbrella association of trekking agencies around the country, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) has requested government to fully halt Kathmandu-Lukla flight. The agency has also urged to promote Ramechhap-Lukla flight.
Civil aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has also notified domestic airline operating flights to Lukla to continue the flights from Ramechhap airport.
TAAN and Tourism Ministry (MoCTCA) delegates held meeting and discussed about various impacts made on locals regions, tourists and trekking agencies with the continuity of Ramechhap-Lukla flight.
TAAN officials stated that some airlines are still operating Kathmandu-Lukla flight and urged to completely halt such flights as it would be much more beneficial to operate flights from Ramechhap.
They also stated that some airlines are operating Kathmandu-Lukla flight without acknowledging trekking agencies by giving priorities to individual booking done directly from online.
TAAN members also requested ministry to revise air-fare for Ramechhap-Lukla flight as the flight duration is completely different than flight duration from Kathmandu.
Stakeholders have also requested government to upgrade the facilities at Manthali Airport, Ramechhap as operating flights from Manthali will be troublesome for the passengers as monsoon is about to start and roads to the airport are not properly managed. They also urged to construct tourist-friendly infrastructures.
CAAN has also already released notice urging airlines to give continuity to the flight so as to minimize the traffic congestion of the country’s sole international airport Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
Lukla is the favorite destination for majority of tourists so; there is always hectic flight schedule for Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla. Almost 100 flights (including helicopter flights) for Lukla is conducting daily by the domestic airline companies during peak tourism season while over 20 flights are conducted during normal season.
