Nepal to resume international flights on selected destinations from September 1

Nepal has decided to resume International flights in selected destinations starting from September 1 abiding by safety measures.

In a press conference to announce decisions made by the Council of Ministers, Spokesperson for Government of Nepal, Yubaraj Khatiwada announced measures to be followed by passengers as well as aviation service providers.

"Regular flights scheduled to start September 1, will be released by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Passengers who will be on board those flights would need an RT- PCR Negative report which shall be performed 72 hours before getting on-board. They should send it along with a form that they need to fill online over the website of CCMC and show either bar-code or printed copy or else confirmation about hotel booking where they will stay on mandatory quarantine for a week," Khatiwada said.

Expenses for one week's compulsory hotel quarantine are subjected to be paid on by the person whosoever is flying back to Nepal and the payment should be made prior to the arrival.

A list of hotels that would be converted into quarantine facility for a week will be released by the Civil Aviation Ministry soon, Khatiwada said.

Along with the commencement of International flights starting next month, the government also has decided to continue repatriation flights for stranded Nepali in those countries where the COVID-19 infection stands low. Also, it has clarified that only 500 passengers will be permitted to enter Nepal on a daily basis.

But the government has mentioned that the Diplomatic Staffs stationed inside the nations will be exempted in the due course of time.

"Regarding flights coming in, Countries and Cities which have easy access for RT-PCR Tests-Malaysia, UAE, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Australia, America, Canada and other European Countries, those with permission to come to Nepalwither Nepali or Foreign Diplomats or Staffs, UN, Development Agencies representatives only will be allowed to come to Nepal," Khatiwada said.

"Those countries where RT-PCR is not easily available such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and other countries, regular flights will not be allowed to ferry passengers," he added.

"The Government has committed to conducting chartered flights to destinations where flights are required in co-ordination with concerned missions for evacuation flights. Earlier the government had cancelled on the evac. Flights which had mounted pressure and criticism on the government from multiple fronts," he added.

( With inputs from ANI )