KATHMANDU, June 30: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had directed airline companies to park their aircraft at airports outside the Kathmandu Valley at night as per the operating base prescribed to them to reduce the pressure at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

The Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), which had protested against the directive initially, has asked airlines to make their first flights from the airports outside the Kathmandu Valley as per the CAAN’s directive.

Airlines have started parking their aircraft at night at six regional airports outside Kathmandu as per the CAAN’s directive.

Director and spokesperson for TIA, Teknath Sitaula said that the first flight to Kathmandu was started by parking the aircraft at night at Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Janakpur and Biratnagar airports outside the valley. "Currently, 20 aircraft are parked at the regional airports outside Kathmandu at night every day," he said, adding that "This has eased the pressure at the Tribhuvan International Airport."

He informed Republica that 20 planes of various airlines including Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines started their first flight to Kathmandu from 6 AM on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Sitaula said that the first flight to Kathmandu was started by landing 20 aircraft of different companies at the regional airports. 

 
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