Nepal to seek new air route during JC meeting with India

Published On: January 3, 2024 05:15 PM NPT By: Mithilesh Yadav

LAHAN, Jan 3: Nepal is set to ask India to provide an additional air entry route during the Joint Commission (JC) meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) will propose a new air route for third-country airlines to enter Nepal through Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, and Mahendranagar. According to high-level government sources, MoCTCA is going to put forward a proposal to fix the date of the meeting of the Technical Coordination Team for the operation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) installed at Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa.

MoCTCA has also prepared a proposal to seek India’s approval to operate direct flights from Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) to various cities in India. India will also be requested to grant permission for Buddha Air’s direct flights to other cities in India such as Patna, Lucknow, Gaya, and Dehradun.

Sources indicate that a request for permission for Himalayan Airlines to fly in India is also expected to be made during the JC. The Nepali side has also proposed allowing Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) aircraft to fly from Bhairahawa and Pokhara to various Indian cities, including Delhi.