The April-May earthquakes and ongoing fuel crisis in the country resulting from blockade at border checkpoints has negatively affected the aviation sector, according to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Passenger occupancy in domestic flights in the first ten months of the current year dropped by 4.15 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal shared this information at a programme organised to mark its 17th anniversary in Kathmandu on Thursday.

On the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya called on airlines operators and aviation sector employees to be serious about improving their services. He also stresed the need for upgrading services at all domestic airports across the country.

Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Sanjiv Gautam, and Airlines Operators’ Association first Vice Chair Pabitra Kumar Karki said serving the passengers was their first priority even during difficult times.

Nepal has recently signed bilateral aviation agreements with New Zealand and Vietnam for operating flights.

With this, the number of countries that Nepal has bilateral aviation agreement with has reached 38.

Presently, 26 airlines, including two domestic, are operating international flights to 23 destinations of 13 countries from the Tribhuvan International Airport.