Speaking interaction organized by Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) on Sunday, private airline operators said they were facing difficulty in expanding services to rural because of limited number of aircraft. [break]
“We need to invest US $5 million on new aircraft and we can´t recover the amount by operating flights in rural areas alone,” Thapa said, adding: “The government has not yet rectified Cape Town Convention Policy that welcomes foreign investment in aviation sector.”
Suman Pandey, general secretary of AOAN, lamented that existing aviation policy bars operators from buying aircraft older than 15-20 years even if they are airworthy.
AOAN officials also claimed that geographical adversity is the reason behind most of the air crashes in Nepal and not the fault of airline or carelessness of pilot as reported in media.
“As a member of International Civil Aviation Organization, we comply with international standards and guidelines,” Thapa said, adding that airline companies were committed in enhancing aviation safety.
Related story
Lack of access to finance hindering growth of social entreprene...
