Alternatives for getting new international airport into operation being discussed

KATHMANDU, Nov 05:The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has discussed with high-level government officials the alternatives for operating the newly completed and operational international airport.

High government officials, including Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Finance Secretary Krishnahari Pushkar, and Law Secretary Udayraj Sapkota, attended a meeting held by Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister Sudan Kirati on Friday.

During the meeting, the authority stated that different ideas for making the two new airports operational were reviewed.

According to Gyanendra Bhul, the CAAN's information officer, the CAAN has notified that all organs play an equal role in its operation because airports are state structures.

"Internationally, it takes 10 years for a domestic airport to become profitable and 20 years for an international airport to become profitable," he added. "There is a lot of publicity in our country saying that we made a loss in our first year of operation." There was a discussion regarding the responsibilities and possibilities for finding business at the airport in this situation."

He stated that Tribhuvan International Airport is now operating at full capacity after 70 years of operation, and the role of labor, tourism, and foreign affairs departments in administering the new airport was discussed. He previously stated that even when mandatory requirements were imposed on airline companies, flights did not increase, and the authority concludes that new incentive programs are needed.

"While trying to force them to go out of Kathmandu, the company was ready to cancel the flight yesterday," he stated. It is the obligation of all state entities in this situation to establish an environment in which passengers are available in Bhairahawa and Pokhara.