Kathmandu, June 16
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is likely to continue making airline companies conduct flights between Ramechhap and Lukla airports even after the runway repairing project at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport will be over.
The government had begun repairing the runway of the country’s only international airport in March. Following that, the Manthali airport in Ramechhap was assigned to handle flights to Lukla, the nearest airport from Mount Everest, provisionally as the TIA would not be able to handle the traffic in the mountaineering spring season.
Now, the repairing is going to be over, and the mountaineering season has ended. But, the Authority has recently written to airline companies to continue their flights from Ramechhap.
CAAN’s Acting Director General Rajan Pokharel says the continuity was decided so that tourists can benefit.
Private travel agents, however, say flying from Ramechhap will give the passengers more trouble. They also complain that the flight distance and fare along Ramechhap-Lukla route do not match.
