Devanand Upadhyay, general manager of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), said they have issued Notice to Airman (NOTAM) for a week till October 5 to manage fuel on their own as requested by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). "Most of the airlines have agreed to make technical landing for refueling or carry extra fuel," he added.
Thai Airways, Biman Bangladesh, and airlines from India, except Jet Airways (Mumbai flight), which carry fuel for both ways does not have refueling problem. Likewise, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and Druk Air will bring sufficient fuel from Indian airports and Bhutan, respectively, as far as possible.
"Most of the airlines have arranged technical landing at different airports for refueling. As we have been told that fuel supply will be affected for a week, we have made alternative arrangements. But we will have to reduce number of passengers by around 25 to 30 to carry extra fuel," Bharat Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Airlines Operators' Committee-Nepal (AOC-N), said.
Turkish Air and Korean Air have taken permission for technical landing at New Delhi and Bangkok, respectively. Likewise, Oman Air, Air Arabia and Fly Dubai will be refueling at Lucknow, while Etihad Airways will land at New Delhi for refueling while returning back.
Qatar Airlines, however, has merged its two flights and will be operating wide body aircraft Airbus 330 in the evening.
Chinese airlines, except China Southern, have informed TIA that will make technical landing for refueling in Lhasa.
"Though refueling arrangement has been made, airlines are not in a position to operate in such arrangement for long. Their revenue will fall as they will have to reduce 20-25 passengers to carry extra fuel," Shrestha said. "We will request the government to provide the airlines discounts on ground handling or other airport service charges so that they can support Nepal for a longer time at this time of crisis."
The new arrangement will increase overhead cost of airlines as they have to pay fees at other airports as well.
Saroj Kasaju, commercial director of NAC, agreed with Shrestha and said that the national flag carrier will support in crisis by carrying extra fuel as far as possible. "But it will not be feasible for the long run," he added.
Pradeep Kumar Yadav, aviation fuel in-charge of NOC, said NOC was not in a position to provide fuel to international airlines except in emergency cases. "As international airlines have options to carry fuel or land at other cities for refueling, we have stopped providing fuel to them so that flights of domestic airlines remain unaffected," he added.
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