Nepal Aviation Ministry Proposes Flight Resumption With India From 17 October

Nepal’s Civil Aviation Ministry has sent a proposal to resume flights to and from India from October 17, confirmed an official from Nepal’s COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC).

Nepal had earlier blocked all flights to and from India from March after the imposition of a nationwide lockdown within the Himalayan nation, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has proposed to open its air connection with India again after a period of seven months, with adherence to a health protocol, confirmed Joint Secretary of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry Kamal Prasad Bhattarai with ANI.

“We have proposed resumption of flights from October 17, the proposal has been sent to the CCMC for consideration but we are yet to receive any response. Once they decide over the date we will further plan out the number of flights and permits to be issued,” Bhattarai said in a telephonic conversation.

Once the proposal is approved by the CCMC, it’ll be sent to the cabinet meeting for the final decision over the reopening of flights. in addition to the proposal, the Ministry has also sent a health protocol, that might be similar for all the passengers arriving in Nepal via the airways.

“The CCMC or the cabinet may additionally draft a new protocol but as of now, we have proposed the existing protocol, which would also be applicable for people that are arriving from different nations,” added Bhattarai.

According to the existing protocol, a compulsory RT-PCR negative report for COVID-19, not exceeding 72 hours from the time of boarding the plane, would be required. Airlines wouldn’t be allowed to bring passengers who don’t have an RT-PCR report and people with the report on the same flight.

Nepali citizens who are coming back from India would be required to put themselves home quarantine for 14 days, while foreigners would be required to stay in seven days quarantine within the hotel.

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