KATHMANDU, Jan 1: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to abide by the concerns of the European Commission to remove Nepali airlines companies from EU's blacklist.

Addressing a programme organized on Sunday on the occasion of 25th anniversary of CAAN, Minister Kirati instructed the CAAN officials to give topmost priority for the aviation safety and maintain the nation's image by providing passenger-friendly services. 

On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that Nijgadh International Airport would be developed in the public private partnership model and asked the officials to work considering the government policy and target for tourism promotion and development.

State Minister for Tourism Sushila Shreepaili Thakuri also asked the CAAN officials to advance by forging partnership and focus on future plans.

Ministry's Secretary Dr Dipak Kalfe said that the CAAN should meet its targets by firmly implementing the annual policy and programmes.

On the occasion, Nepal's first Air Traffic Controller Narayan Bahadur Singh was honoured posthumously while this year's 'CAAN Service Prize' of Rs 100,000 was provided to Director Raju Shrestha.

Also speaking at the event, CAAN Director General Pradip Adhikari argued that the CAAN was making the best possible efforts for the country's aviation safety.

The EU blacklisted Nepal imposing a ban on Nepali airlines from flying into the 28-nation bloc of the EU for the first time in 2013 shortly after the ICAO put up air safety concerns. In 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) however removed Nepal from its Significant Safety Concern list. Aviation Safety Report-2020 made public by the CAAN on November 27 showed decreasing air incident rate. Adoption of modern safety system in air safety and efficiency enhancement of aviation workforce are said to be responsible for it.

(RSS)

 
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