Nepal, India to review air service agreement

Nepal is likely to review air service agreement (ASA) with India with the aim of scrapping existing restrictions on air-seat allocations, the website Kantipur.com reported Wednesday.

"We are going to extend invitation to Indian Civil Aviation Ministry through diplomatic channel to send a delegation to Nepal to hold a bilateral civil aviation meeting in order to review the ASA within mid-July," an official at the Ministry of Culture, Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCCAT) told the website.

According to the report, the MoCCAT has begun preparations for review in the ASA after Indian government gave a green signal for Nepal's proposal for changes forwarded to India during Nepali Prime Minister Girija Rasa Koirala's recent visit there.

The official said on condition of anonymity, the change in ASA will allow Nepali airlines to operate unlimited number of flights.

As per the existing ASA, each country is restricted to only 6, 000 seats each week. The limit in the number of air-seats has impeded Nepali airlines to operate flights to Indian cities.

The number of airports where Nepali airlines can fly will be increased, the official added.

India has already agreed to permit Nepali airlines to land at 18 Indian airports, but Nepal asked permission for two more airports - Deharadun and Bagdogra, the official said.

He said Nepal is also going to request India to relax the procedure for obtaining air defense clearance (ADC) number for Nepali aircraft entering Indian territory.

So far, Nepal has entered into ASA with 35 countries, according to the official.

Source: Xinhua