Nepal allows international airlines to add extra flights

The Nepali government has granted permission to all international airlines operating in Nepal to add three more flights a week over the existing schedule, the local daily The Kathmandu Post reported on Saturday.

"Due to crunch of air seats availability with the increasing flow of foreign tourist, the government has decided to allow for operating three more flights to international airlines in a week until Dec. 31," the English language newspaper quoted Pradeep Gyawali, minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, as saying.

There has been increasing demands of more air seats from tourists planning to visit Nepal during the upcoming tourist season starting from October as the international airlines witnessed their all seats packed to operate during the period.

Lots of tourists, especially from Europe, are unable to visit Nepal this pick season due to unavailability of air seats.

"As soon as we get formal letter of permission, we will raise the number flights from 11 to 14 to Nepal each week," said Gyan Amerasinghe, area manager of Qatar Airways, one of key international airlines operating in Nepal.

The increasing attraction of tourists to Nepal has shown the sign of revival in Nepali tourism industry that was suffering from years of slump, thanks to the four-moth long cease-fire and ongoing peace process in the country.

Source: Xinhua