Technical preparations have begun to provide additional air routes between Nepal and India. From the long time,Nepal has been trying to acquire additional air routes with the goal of making air services smooth and convenient.
As per information, technical preparation has been started after facing complexity in air service because of having only one air route to enter Nepal with airlines having additional expenses.
The government had been asking the Indian government to provide the ‘Trans-Himalaya 2’ and air routes from other four places to enter Nepal.
In that context India had been hesitating for approval showing technical reasons however, the high level technical discussion is expected to happen on third week of June. India has agreed on the air routes demand after the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal on Baisakh 28-29.
According to that agreement, within next six months, the goal is to make consensus about additional air routes. A team of Airports Authority of India (AAI), India, is coming to Nepal to discuss the issue of further air routes.
Gautam Buddha Airport is being constructed in Bhairahawa and so, it has been necessary on approval of additional air routes in terms of the goal to complete the airport within the next one year. If India does not provide the demanded air routes, it will be difficult for operating the airport. Similarly, Nijgadh International Airport requires Indian sky for landing and takeoff of the aircraft.
Currently, the aircraft come through only one routes from Indian airspace to Nepal. The aircraft coming from HongKong, Bangkok, Dhaka, Malaysia, Singapore enter Nepal from Romeo point of Simara. The outgoing aircraft from Nepal use the airspace of Bhairahawa, Mahendranagar Simra, Janakpur and Biratnagar. Similarly, the aircraft coming from China use Sagarmatha point and Nepal has also started discussion with China on providing new air routes.
According to the agreement between Nepal and India, there is a discussion about additional air routes for the expansion of the network. After Nepalese team discussed with the Indian Technical Team, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari informed a public notice a few days ago. Minister Adhikari said that Ministry and Authority are preparing for necessary requirement.
Privately owned airlines, Buddha Air has been preparing to conduct Nepalgunj-Delhi flights saying that Indian government is positive toward providing air permits.
