Nepal lobbying EU to lift ban on Nepali airlines

LONDON, Nov 5: Nepal is lobbying the European Union (EU) to lift its ban on Nepali airlines operating in European airspace, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj (Ganes) Paudel has said.

Speaking at an interaction organized by the Britain-Nepal Chamber of Commerce (BNCC) in London on Tuesday, Paudel said the government was seeking to persuade EU authorities to reconsider the restrictions imposed on Nepali airlines.

Nepal has remained on the EU's aviation safety list since 2013. Although the country was removed from the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) safety concern list in 2018 following improvements in aviation security, it has yet to secure removal from the EU list.

"We are having a meeting with EU officials in Brussels this month and are requesting them to reconsider their decision," Paudel said.

He also said Nepal was holding talks with India to secure access to its airspace for international flights to Lumbini International Airport in Bhairahawa. Prime Minister Balendra Shah is also expected to raise the issue during his forthcoming visit to India.

Paudel said India was constructing a regional airport in Motihari, Bihar, and might need access to Nepali airspace. Nepal has also requested India to facilitate international flights to Bhairahawa through its airspace, with discussions progressing positively, he added.

Paudel said Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) was operating at 120 percent of its capacity, prompting the government to focus on utilizing the international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara.

The government is also lobbying Buddhist-majority countries, including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Japan, to attract more Buddhist pilgrims to Lumbini, he said. He added that Nepal would also need to build an international airport at Nijgadh to establish itself as an international transit hub.

Paudel, who is in the UK to attend the World Travel Market (WTM), said he had held meetings with tourism counterparts from various countries. He said the government was committed to promoting wellness tourism and establishing Nepal as a destination for yoga and meditation.

Speaking at the event, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker and head of its Diaspora Department Manish Jha said his party viewed non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) as think tanks rather than donors.

He said the government was committed to formulating laws to implement NRN citizenship within the next three months, addressing several concerns of Nepalis living abroad. He also urged NRNs to contribute their skills, networks and resources to Nepal's development.

BNCC President Biraj Bhatta said the chamber had been working to promote trade and investment between Nepal and the UK since its establishment. He urged the government to facilitate NRN investment and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

BNCC Vice President Indra Giri welcomed the participants and introduced the speakers, while its CEO Steve Buckley highlighted the chamber's activities.

Paudel and Jha also responded to questions from participants.