MoTCA to rescind, Air Arabia m’sia route

The ministry will issue the notice shortly to the airline, mentioning that the decision taken by the constitutional body cannot be ignored

SANGAM PRASAIN

KATHMANDU, DEC 14 -

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) will issue a ‘notice of revocation’ to Sharjah-based Air Arabia that was allowed to operate flights in the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur airspace by the ministry on Dec. 2 under the Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights.

A day after the Parliament’s International Relation and Human Rights Committee directed MoTCA to revoke the decision, ministry secretary Kishore Thapa said it will issue the notice shortly to the airline, mentioning that the decision taken by the constitutional body cannot be ignored.

“We were waiting for the letter from the committee regarding this decision. The letter will be forwarded to the airline as soon as we receive the directive,” said Thapa.

Air Arabia was set to start service in this sector from Dec. 16. However, following pressure from the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and lawmakers, the committee took the decision to this effect. It said its decision was based on the ‘violation of Nepal Airlines Act-1962’. “We (the MoTCA) cannot overrule the decision made by the constitutional body. However, we will not be liable alone for any possible problems in this issue. The government will also have to suffer if any problem arises,” added Thapa.

The committee had also directed the ministry to amend the existing Air Service Agreement (ASA) to safeguard the country’s interests. Secretary Thapa said such a legal process needs an extensive discussion and the ministry will discuss the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Even if the committee had not revoked the ministry’s decision, NAC still had another alternative to stop Air Arabia from operating. An international airline is required to sign an agreement with NAC to land at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

An agent of Air Arabia in Nepal said the government overlooked the woes of Nepali passengers who are compelled to fly to Malaysia through India and Bangladesh in the absence of NAC aircraft. “Permission to Air Arabia operation could have made things easier for those Nepali migrant workers.”

On Sunday, the committee meeting chaired by Padma Lal Bishwokarma concluded that the ministry violated the NAC act by allowing Air Arabia to operate Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur flights. The committee said that it would hurt the national carrier’s business in the most lucrative sector.

The Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur sector has emerged as the one of the most lucrative sectors for NAC over the last two years. NAC earns Rs. 8 million from a single flight, thanks largely to Nepali migrant workers.

With the continuous surge in the number of Malaysia-bound migrant workers, the NAC does not want to share this sector with other airlines. Air Arabia had also targeted migrant worker passengers.

According to the ministry, the decision was taken considering the lack of sufficient flights in this sector. The ministry was of the view that allowing Air Arabia in this route would bring in more tourists during Nepal Tourism Year-2011.