Nepal remains on the European Union's aviation safety blacklist, which concerns stakeholders of the Nepali aviation sector. At the same time, it hints at the country's utter failure in persuading the EU to remove our airline carriers from the blacklist.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) removed Nepal from its "grey list" in 2018, but the country has failed to fulfill EU safety criteria, which has prevented Nepali airlines from flying to European skies for more than a decade now. The EU ban has prevented all 20 airlines licensed by Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) from flying to all of the 27 EU countries. This indicates Nepal's persistent inability to meet EU aviation safety concerns.
The EU's blacklisting of airlines from numerous countries, including Nepal, is intended to safeguard passengers and guarantee that only airlines following the highest safety standards can fly in European skies. The prohibition on airlines from Nepal, which has seen multiple flight mishaps in the past decade, as well as from Afghanistan, Sudan, and North Korea, speaks volumes about these countries' inadequate safety. The EU has highlighted its worries about a fundamental shortcoming in Nepal's civil aviation governance. The CAAN, with its regulatory and executive roles, is at the heart of EU's contention. The ICAO has advised Nepal to separate CAAN into two distinct agencies, one for regulatory supervision and the other for service operations. Despite promises from successive governments, the required legislation to achieve this change has gathered dust in our parliament. This delay has prompted the EU to add our aviation industry to its blacklist, raising concerns about our own aviation safety and the reputation of our carriers.
EU positive about Nepal’s aviation safety
Nepali airlines' inability to access European skies and markets due to the ongoing embargo deprives the nation of economic potential. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the state-owned carrier, and several commercial carriers, most notably Himalayan Airlines, are virtually forbidden from accessing Europe, a continent noted for its heavy aviation traffic. As a result, Nepal's objectives to increase tourism and trade have suffered. For the past 13 years, European visitors, who make up the majority of Nepal's tourism industry, have been discouraged from visiting Nepal.
The European airlines have unrestricted access to Nepali airspace, a privilege the Nepali airlines are deprived of. This lopsided scenario necessitates that Nepali authorities take immediate action to address the core causes of its aviation troubles. The European Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) recent safety assessment provided a glimmer of hope. However, Nepal's sluggish pace to address the issues as suggested by the EU has led to the current stalemate.
Recently, the EU added Tanzania to the blacklist and removed Pakistan International Airlines from this list, showing that it is serious about safety requirements, for which it has maintained close vigilance. Nepal's continual inability to get removed off the list indicates carelessness in our aviation governance that often compromises our safety standards.
Nepal's officials must realize that CAAN must be separated into two entities, which is a major step toward securing safer skies. The European Union's safety concerns should be viewed as a wake-up call. Nepal can demonstrate its commitment to achieving international safety standards by endorsing the long-awaited bill to reform CAAN. This step would not only allow Nepali airlines to access European skies, but it would also improve the general safety and efficiency of the country's aviation sector.
