Nepal Grants More Air Operating Certificates

Nepal grants more air operating certificates

KATHMANDU, July 28 (Xinhua) — The Nepali government granted air operating certificates (AOC) to five airlines during the last fiscal year ended on July 15.

With these, the number of airlines to acquire AOC has reached 39 in the country.

Air Nepal International, a new Nepali private airliner, started its maiden flights on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route last Sunday with a leased Boeing 767-300 aircraft, a statement released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said here Thursday.

On the back of growing air traffic, new companies have been showing willingness to operate airlines, it stated.

Big-bodied aircraft began to fly in the domestic sky last year, and there was fierce competition between the domestic airlines, the CAAN said.

The figure of the CAAN shows that the volume of air passengers increased by around 19 percent in 2004 in comparison with the number a year earlier.

Some 1.9 million people traveled by air, up from 1.6 million, the CAAN said.