KATHMANDU: The low-cost United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Air Arabia is scheduled to fly from December 16, though a Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) employees union has threatened to gherau the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), if it starts its flight.
“We are not asking any prevelage to operate Air Arabia on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route,” said Rabi Chandra Singh, director of the airliners’s GSA City Express International Travel and Tours for Air Arabia in Nepal. “We are exercising the Fifth Freedom Right that is according to the Air Service Agreement (ASA) between Nepal and the UAE,” he said, adding that Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is also currently enjoying the right.
“The scheduled Air Arabia flight will also not hurt the national flag carrier,” he said, adding that even if Air Arabia — with its six flights a week — and NAC — with its six flights a week — both continue flying on the route, it could only cater to a quarter of the total passenger flying on the route.
“There is enough room for NAC to add its flight on the route — as they both will be able to fly only 26 per cent of the total air passenger — when it acquires its aircraft.”
NAC fears that it could loose its most profitable route as Malaysia is the number one destination for the Nepali migrant workers.
According to the Labour Department, in the first nine months of 2010, Malaysian embassy has issued 1,17,000 visas. Nepali migrant workers have been flying to Kuala Lumpur via Dhaka and New Delhi paying more air fare due to lack of enough flights.
The International Relations and Human Rights Committee has instructed the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) yesterday not to allow Air Arabia operate flight on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route saying that the decision will not only bleed the national flag carrier but also is against the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act-2019.
But according to the Act, the ministry needs to take advise — not consent — from national flag carrier before giving fifth freedom right to foreign airliners but can decide on its own. However, the NAC officials have been claiming that the ministry needs its consent to allow fifth freedom right.
The government has permitted Air Arabia to operate six flights a week on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route under the revised ASA between the UAE and Nepal in 2007. The fifth freedom rights allows an airline to carry passenger from one’s own country to a second country and from that country to a third country.
“We are also trying to make Nepal transit route that will benefit the country,” Singh added.
