Nepal Extends Ban On International Flights Till May 31

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on Tuesday extends the suspension of scheduled international flights till midnight (23:59 NST) of 31 May 2021 amid the surge of coronavirus cases in the country.

The earlier flight suspension was going to expire on 14th May which has now been elongated by 17 more days.

The CAAN in a notice issued to all airlines said, “The suspension period of international scheduled flights (except two flights in a week between Kathmandu and New Delhi, one flight each by Nepal Airlines and Air India, under the Air Travel Bubble Arrangement) is extended till 31st May 2021 midnight (23:59 hrs NST)”

However, medical, chartered and cargo flights will be allowed to fly with permission from CAAN.

The Aviation Authority has also directed all the airlines to facilitate the refunding of air tickets or extension of travel dates as required by passengers.

With the extension of the international flight ban, Nepalis migrants going abroad and returning home will be directly affected. Travel of foreign tourists involved in mountaineering is also likely to be affected.

Earlier, the Himalayan country had decided to halt all domestic flights from May 3 midnight and all international flights from May 7 midnight until May 14 to control the coronavirus cases.

It must be noted that Nepal has also banned all foreign nationals from using Kathmandu as a transit point for the purposes of onward journeys to third countries.

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