Kathmandu, Jun 18
Finnair, the biggest airline company and national flag carrier of Finland, has proposed Nepal that it launch direct flights between Kathmandu and Helsinki. Once the government of Nepal accepts the proposal, it will be the first direct flight to Europe from Kathmandu.
Undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Pramod Nepal, says the Ministry is finalising preparations to sign an agreement between the two governments. Currently, the Ministry is collecting suggestions from stakeholders to finalise the agreement draft, according to him.
Once the draft is ready, the Ministry forwards it to the Council of Ministers seeking endorsement. The Ministry will reach out to the Finnish counterpart after the Cabinet’s approval.
Currently, passengers travelling between Nepal and Europe have been using Istanbul of Turkey or an airport of the Gulf countries as a transit. Once the Finnair launches operation, they can travel without any transit.
The airline company has been conducting regular flights to New Delhi of India as well. It is interested to come to Nepal, targeting Nepali students flying to Europe and European tourists visiting Nepal, according to sources.
So far, Nepal has signed aviation agreements with 39 countries.
Meanwhile, Nepali airline companies are still barred from flying in the European sky owing to a European Commission blacklist that came into effect in 2013.
