KATHMANDU, Jan 27: The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled in favor of Himalayan Airlines in the 13-month dispute over ground handling at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

The bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Binod Sharma has issued an injunction on Friday in the name of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to grant a self-ground handling facility to Himalaya Airlines.

There is a provision to allow self-ground handling for air service providers that operate more than 35 scheduled flights per week. Based on the guidelines made in 2072 BS, the CAAN decided to provide self-ground handling facility to Himalaya Airlines.

Then Himalayan Airlines purchased the necessary equipment for self-ground handling. The airline has already spent around Rs 500 million on the infrastructure of self-ground handling.

When the infrastructure preparation was in the final stage, the then Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai, instructed Himalayan Airlines to withdraw self-ground handling.

After Bhattarai pressed for the removal of ground handling by linking it with nationality, the CAAN sent a letter to Himalayan Airlines not to renew till further decision. The then minister Bhattarai was under the influence of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) management and pressured the CAAN to take away self-ground handling from Himalayan Airlines.

Then Himalayan Airlines went to the SC against the CAAN on February 16, 2023. The SC has ruled in favor of the airlines. Himalaya Airlines is currently flying to nearly one dozen international destinations with four aircraft.

Gyanendra Bhul, information officer of the CAAN, said that Himalayan Airlines will be allowed to carry out self-ground handling after the full text of the SC decision.

 
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