Planes purchase reached its final stage:Tourism Minister Kirati

KATHMANDU, Sep 05:Sudan Kirati, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, said that Nepal Airlines Corporation's planes purchase process reached its final stage.

In the meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee under the House of Representatives, Minister Kirati informed that the NAC  itself is going to purchase three ships for domestic flights.

"We're in the final stages of purchasing three Twin Otter planes to fly to airports in remote areas," he stated. He stated that the process of procuring planes has begun so that the NAC can service 22 interior destinations. Currently, the NAC operates two Twin Otter planes on domestic flights.

Sushila Sirpali Thakuri, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, stated during the meeting that the ministry's policy reforms and planned programs will be carried forward.

The committee's chairman, Rajkishore Yadav, told the minister during the meeting that the committee would completely back the minister's policy reforms and joint actions.  Bharatmani Subedi, the ministry's secretary, presented a presentation on the ministry's work progress.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the country currently has 55 airports. 34 of them are open for business, while 21 are closed. Similarly, two airports are being built.