Airline operators request not to halt flight operation

Aircraft of Yeti Airlines parked at Pokhara airport. Photo: Vishwanews

Kathmandu: Amid a growing epidemic of coronavirus, prohibitory orders have been issued in various districts. This has once again started affecting the movement of passengers. In this situation, the airline operators have demanded to continue flight operations citing that non-transit flights are taking place.

The Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) issued a statement on Wednesday urging the government not to halt flight operations, which is considered relatively safe.

Entrepreneurs have also demanded to intensify the vaccination campaign saying that the travel should not be stopped completely to make the country’s economy run smoothly. Entrepreneurs are enthusiastic about the fact that more than five million Nepalis have been vaccinated against covid.

According to AOAN, 50 percent of the passengers were vaccinated. Transmission-free hygiene, passenger temperature checks, masks and face shields have been made mandatory during the flight. Sanitizer should be used before boarding the aircraft.

At present, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has scheduled only eight flights per hour.