There was no point in keeping Nepal's airlines in blacklist by the EU: Adhikari

Kathmandu: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Jivan Ram Shrestha, has expressed hope that the European Union (EU) would lift ban on Nepal's airlines soon.    

At a press meet organized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) on the current budget and programmes here Sunday, Minister Shrestha reminded that even the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had stated improvement in Nepal's air service in its audit report. With this, EU could lift the ban on Nepal's aviation sector, he argued.    

He further shared that the concerned side had written to the CAAN that it would send an onsite audit, which he believed, would help remove Nepal from EU's blacklist, thereby paving a way to Nepali airlines' entry to Europe.    

The Gautam Buddha International Airport would be operated in a full scale and attractive schemes and incentives introduced. Smooth management of the domestic and international airports is equal priority, he said.    

Director General at CAAN, Pradip Adhikari, has also said there was no point in keeping Nepal's airlines in blacklist by the EU while ICAO has already mentioned improvement in Nepal's aviation safety.