Third-phase chartered flights schedule begins

KATHMANDU: The third-phase of operation of chartered flights begins today to bring back Nepalis stranded in several countries due to COVID-19 crisis.

Two domestic airlines companies — the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and private Himalaya Airlines and other international airlines are operating their flights for the third-phase of operation to several destinations for a week to rescue Nepali citizens.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has fixed the timetable from July 15 to 22 for the operation of chartered flights. The flight schedule has already been published.

As per the schedule, the NAC and Himalayan Airlines started their operations today. There will be 42 flights for special purposes while the NAC is alone to make 24 flights followed the 15 flights by the Himalaya Airlines.

The NAC is making two flights to Dubai on Wednesday and Himalaya Airlines is operating two flights to Abu Dhabi. The Air Arabia, Fly Dubai and Jazeera Air are joining with two airlines companies.

The chartered flights have been scheduled as per the permission of the government.

The NAC and Himalya Airlines have already made several chartered flights to different destinations such as China, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Japan to bring Nepalis back home.

Tribhuvan International Airport has bene witnessing the operation of up to 16 chartered flights every day.