No international flights at Bhairahawa without diplomatic initiative with India: DG Adhikari

KATHMANDU, Feb 12:Pradeep Adhikari, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has said that international flights cannot be operated at Bhairahawa Airport without diplomatic initiatives with India.

He said this while speaking at the meeting of the National Concerns and Coordination Committee held at the Singha Darbar on Sunday.

He said that now is not the time to seek profit from Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports, and the government needs to negotiate with India to increase international flights at the airport.

Answering the questions of the MPs in the meeting that the airport was not operational because of the route, the official said that the route is not the only obstacle in the reduction of international flights at the airport. "Just because of the route does not mean that the airport is not running", he said.

The Adhikari said that the current publicity is not enough to operate international flights at the airport. He said that international flights will be operated at the airport by intensifying the work of asking for flights to neighboring countries and promoting the airport.

The Adhikari emphasized that airport-centric activities should be increased to make Bhairahawa airport operational. He said, 'There is a matter of Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports. We should not seek immediate benefits. As much as we have invested in Tribhuvan Airport, where has that much investment been made? Tribhuvan Airport has been in operation for 75 years and even today it is not at full capacity. So you have to be patient for some time. Everyone should promote it together. Bhairahawa-centric activities should be created by creating a policy.