TIA during lockdown: 33 int’l flights; over 4,000 evacuated

KATHMANDU: The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has operated 33 international flights during the COVID-19 lockdown so far.

According to the Spokesperson at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), airlines carried out the chartered and cargo flights during the period from March 23-April 24.

According to him, 4,532 foreigners have left Nepal through the evacuation flights till Friday. Only on Friday, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kathmandu evacuated its 76 students through a chartered flight.

Among the total flights, Qatar Airways carried out nine flights, Nepal Airlines eights (four cargo flights and four evacuation flights), Titan Airways three, Shree Airlines two, Buddha Air one and Korean Air one.

Likewise, Druk Air of Bhutan, Sri Lankan Airlines, Malaysian Airline, Malindo Air, Etihad Airways, Czech Airlines, Royal Flight Air and Journey Airlines made one flight each.

Through the flights, citizens of Germany, France, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Russia, USA, UK and the Chez Republic among others return their home countries.

Nepal Tourism Board had rescued them from different places in Nepal and brought them to Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, the government has extended the suspension on domestic and international flights until May 15.

A meeting of the High-Level Coordination Committee on the Prevention and Containment of COVID-19 held on Saturday decided to suspend all flights.

Earlier, both domestic and international flights were suspended till April 30.

Passenger evacuation flights, freighter flights, rescue flights, and other emergency flights can be operated during the period.