KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has urged major international airlines to start operating from the newly-built Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) and Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) as alternatives to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). During a meeting, Minister Badri Prasad Pandey proposed incentives such as waivers on PSC charges, landing, parking, and navigation fees, as well as a 75% reduction on ground handling services, to encourage airlines to shift their operations to these airports.
Despite these offers, airline operators expressed concerns about immediately starting flights from GBIA and PRIA due to several challenges, including aviation safety issues and inadequate infrastructure. Operators pointed out that GBIA, which cost over Rs 40 billion to build, faces operational difficulties, particularly in winter conditions with foggy weather and a lack of instrumental landing systems. Additionally, the absence of essential services such as visa centers, labor offices, and health examination facilities hinders the attractiveness of GBIA for international routes.
The government has committed to addressing these issues by establishing an RNP-AR route for GBIA and working on improving quarantine facilities, infrastructure for migrant workers, and amending air service agreements to include code-sharing and fifth freedom rights. However, airlines have requested that the government resolve these practical challenges and ensure a viable operational environment before mandating a shift from TIA to the new airports.
The operators have criticized the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal for imposing unrealistic measures that they believe compromise aviation safety. They argue that the current conditions at GBIA and PRIA do not support safe and efficient flight operations, especially to and from the Gulf countries. The airlines emphasized that the government needs to address these concerns comprehensively to build confidence and facilitate the transition to operating from the new airports.
.jpg)
