International flights rebounded by almost 80 percent

KATHMANDU, August 10: Around 30 international airlines are operating 80 flights per day to Nepal according to the Tribhuvan International Airport, a slight decrease from the 32 airlines that used to conduct 100 flights per day before the spread of COVID-19.

Prior to COVID-19, there were more than 100 flights per day carrying more than 20,000 passengers," Pratap Babu Tiwari, general manager of the airport said.

According to Tiwari, there are currently 85 international flights to TIA per day carrying over 10,000 passengers. 
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, China, which stopped flights for a long time after Covid-19, has resumed operations in Nepal along with other international airlines. 

The authority has allowed China Eastern to operate one flight a week from next Monday (August 14) through its Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

"The company has received permission to operate one flight a week in the initial phase before increasing the number of flights to the country," said Gyanendra Bhul, information officer for CAAN.

Prior to COVID-19, China Eastern con ducted seven flights a week to TIA. Following the resumption of normalcy, Cathay Pacific started flights to TIA on October 11, 2022, through its A330-300 series. The airline then increased its number of flights to Nepal to five per week. 

Similarly, the national flag carrier of China, Air China had started seven flights to TIA per week from June 12 onwards. 

At present, Air China, Cathay Pacific, Sichuan Air, China Eastern, China Southern, Turkish Airlines, Jazeera Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Korean Air, Bhutan Air, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Turkish Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Druk Air, 30 companies including Thai Line, Thai Smile Airways are conducting regular flights to the country.