Airline operators lay concerns over CAAN’s decision to halt mountain flights

KATHMANDU, July 28:The Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has opposed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)’s move to partially ban helicopter flights stating that the authority’s decision is irrelevant.

In view of increasing air accidents, CAAN had banned mountain flights and sling flights till September from the second week of July. Similarly, CAAN has decided not to allow pilots having certain shares in the companies they fly for conducting operations at the same company.

The association at a press conference on Friday said that the ban has affected the tourism sector as well as hydropower projects alongside seriously affecting the helicopter service sector.

President Rameshwar Thapa said that the instructions given by CAAN have affected operators in many ways and called on the CAAN leadership to be serious about the impact of the ban on mountain flights, adding that the tourism sector benefits through the mountains as well.