Discussion on resumption of regular air service in remote districts of Karnali

KATHMANDU, Dec 15: Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Jeevan Ram Shrestha has discussed with stakeholders including the Minister of Tourism of Karnali Province about starting regular air service in the remote districts of Karnali.

In a discussion held at the ministry on Wednesday, Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of Karnali Province Bir Bahadur Shahi, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority Nepal Pradeep Adhikari and representatives of private sector air service providers informed about the efforts being made to regularize air flights in the remote districts of Karnali.

Minister Shrestha said that the 'Remote Area Air Service Fund' will be effectively operated to cover the losses incurred by domestic airlines in flights to remote areas. Although the Civil Aviation Authority Nepal, the regulatory body of the country's aviation sector, started the fund, it has not yet been operational.

There was also a discussion about operating the fund through contributions from the federal government, state government and the private sector. Earlier, Minister Shrestha had formed a working group to study the re-operation of the fund to cover the losses caused by flying to remote areas. The working group is finalizing the fund management procedure.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal regulations, there is a provision to deposit 4 US dollars per foreign passenger for mountain flights, 2 dollars per foreign passenger for flights to other destinations and 2 percent of the total income from each charter flight for helicopter service.

Tourism Minister Shahi of Karnali said that the provincial government will also contribute to the fund and help to regularize flights in the remote districts of Karnali. He said that since Surkhet Airport could not be connected with Karnali district, the people could not feel federalism.

Tourism Minister Shrestha said that he is trying to regularize air flights in the Himalayan and hilly districts of Karnali.