KATHMANDU- The Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has warned the government that it would have to launch protests if domestic air service is not allowed to resume from next week.
Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the association of domestic private airlines said that the continuity of the restriction on flights will force them to close their business.
Taking exception to the government decision to extend the ban for 15 more days, the AOAN also warned that they will protest if flight service is not resumed from August 17.
The AOAN has issued the warning after the government decided to pause its earlier decision to resume domestic flight services from August 17 and extend the ban on both domestic and international flights until August 31.
Stating that they have made preparation to operate their domestic flights from August 17 by following safety standards, the AOAN said that airline operators already suffering massive financial losses are on the verge of collapse due to the restriction to operate their flights.
“The decision to extend the restriction has not only impacted the rescue of landslide and flood victims, sick people and pregnant women, but also caused the loss of livelihoods of nearly ten thousand people who are directly or indirectly employed in this sector,” read the press statement.
Earlier on Monday, the government decided to revise its earlier decision to reopen domestic flights and extend the ban until August 31. Air flights were going to resume from August 17 after the government on July 21 decided to lift restrictions on the aviation and transportation services.
AOAN, in its statement, also claimed that the resumption of domestic flights does not spread coronavirus infection and it was possible to carry out testing of coronavirus from a single place if the government wishes to do so. The ticketing system also makes it easier for the contact tracing of passengers, the statement said.
