Authorities in Nepal have allowed limited flights to, and from, Turkey, China, and Qatar to facilitate travelers, reported The Kathmandu Post. The move came after reports emerged that chartered flights were charging exorbitant fares. 

“Amid complaints that passengers, mainly Nepalis, were forced to pay exorbitant fares for chartered flights, we decided to open limited flights,” Nepal’s Tourism Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.

Amid exploding Covid surge a few weeks ago, the country had banned all international flights, except two weekly flights from India. Many Nepali overseas workers thereafter started facing difficulty to reach their working stations. 

Officials informed that China has not yet allowed international flights, so they will see if they permit flights from Nepal in the coming days. And, a weekly flight to Turkey will start soon, Rajan Pokhrel, the director-general of Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, said. 

“Besides China, Qatar, Turkey, and India, scheduled passenger flight restrictions on other destinations will remain in place for an indefinite period,” he added. However, he said flights to other countries will be resumed soon in a gradual manner. 

The ban on flights has also affected Nepal’s already struggling tourism sector, and the government is now preparing a framework to revive the industry. 

(SAM)