KATHMANDU: If a successful Air Service Agreement (ASA) between Nepal and China is signed, then an additional Chinese airline company could be introduced in Nepal, making it four different Chinese airlines operating direct flights to Kathmandu.
Currently, there are three Chinese airline companies — Air China, China Southern and China Eastern — operating around 14 flights a week between China and Kathmandu.
“Due to the increasing demand for more flights, China is planning to introduce a fourth Chinese airline to operate directs flight to Kathmandu. But for that to happen, there must a successful revision of ASA with addition of more frequencies required for the operation of additional flights by a new company,” said joint secretary at the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation Suresh Acharya.
The current ASA between the two countries allows Chinese airlines to operate 14 flights a week but to introduce another company, additional flight permission is required, which is only possible through successful revision of the air service agreement between the two countries, which was signed in 2003.
“As per the agreement, we have already permitted Chinese airlines to operate 14 flights a week and we have also provided 14 Temporary Operating Permits (TOP) to China until December 2013, due to increased number of passengers flying from China,” said Acharya.
The ministry has also issued TOPs for 14 additional flights to other international airlines to cope with the increased passenger number. According to government statistics, in 2012, a total of 71,861 Chinese nationals visited the country making it second largest tourist arrival destination for Nepal. In 2011, the figure was 61,917.
Nepal and China were planning to revise the agreement in October but due to some reasons China postponed the meeting and the revision process has been withheld temporarily. “We have not received any information regarding the next meeting with China for the revision of the air service agreement,” Acharya said.
According to him, China had approached the government to revise the agreement. During the revision meeting, China might ask for the fifth freedom right and additional frequencies to introduce a new airline company.
At present, Air China has direct flights to Chengdu and Lhasa from Kathmandu, while China Southern Airlines has direct flights to Guangzhou and connecting flights to other cities in China. China Eastern Airlines has direct flights from Kunming to Kathmandu and connecting flights to Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai in China, and other destinations in South East Asia, South Asia and Europe.
More air service agreements in pipeline
KATHMANDU: It has been more than two years since Nepal requested Australia and Indonesia to sign air service agreements but the government is still waiting for a positive response from the two countries. Along with Australia and Indonesia, Nepal has also requested Saudi Arabia, Bhutan and Pakistan for a new air service agreement. “We have Australia and Indonesia in our priority list and we want to sign the agreement with the two countries in a package as ASAs with the two countries can create good investment opportunities for our country,” said joint secretary at the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation Suresh Acharya.
Currently, there are three Chinese airline companies — Air China, China Southern and China Eastern — operating around 14 flights a week between China and Kathmandu.
“Due to the increasing demand for more flights, China is planning to introduce a fourth Chinese airline to operate directs flight to Kathmandu. But for that to happen, there must a successful revision of ASA with addition of more frequencies required for the operation of additional flights by a new company,” said joint secretary at the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation Suresh Acharya.
The current ASA between the two countries allows Chinese airlines to operate 14 flights a week but to introduce another company, additional flight permission is required, which is only possible through successful revision of the air service agreement between the two countries, which was signed in 2003.
“As per the agreement, we have already permitted Chinese airlines to operate 14 flights a week and we have also provided 14 Temporary Operating Permits (TOP) to China until December 2013, due to increased number of passengers flying from China,” said Acharya.
The ministry has also issued TOPs for 14 additional flights to other international airlines to cope with the increased passenger number. According to government statistics, in 2012, a total of 71,861 Chinese nationals visited the country making it second largest tourist arrival destination for Nepal. In 2011, the figure was 61,917.
Nepal and China were planning to revise the agreement in October but due to some reasons China postponed the meeting and the revision process has been withheld temporarily. “We have not received any information regarding the next meeting with China for the revision of the air service agreement,” Acharya said.
According to him, China had approached the government to revise the agreement. During the revision meeting, China might ask for the fifth freedom right and additional frequencies to introduce a new airline company.
At present, Air China has direct flights to Chengdu and Lhasa from Kathmandu, while China Southern Airlines has direct flights to Guangzhou and connecting flights to other cities in China. China Eastern Airlines has direct flights from Kunming to Kathmandu and connecting flights to Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai in China, and other destinations in South East Asia, South Asia and Europe.
More air service agreements in pipeline
KATHMANDU: It has been more than two years since Nepal requested Australia and Indonesia to sign air service agreements but the government is still waiting for a positive response from the two countries. Along with Australia and Indonesia, Nepal has also requested Saudi Arabia, Bhutan and Pakistan for a new air service agreement. “We have Australia and Indonesia in our priority list and we want to sign the agreement with the two countries in a package as ASAs with the two countries can create good investment opportunities for our country,” said joint secretary at the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation Suresh Acharya.
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