Nepali Congress pushes for division of Civil Aviation Authority amid global tourism and aviation sector concerns

KATHMANDU: In a bid to enhance aviation safety and boost the tourism sector, the Nepali Congress has begun lobbying to divide the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities: a service provider and a regulatory body. This move comes in response to recommendations from both the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union (EU).

On Sunday, Congress MPs met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, urging him to quickly advance a bill that would split CAAN. Congress MP Rajendra Bajgai highlighted that the Prime Minister is positive about the recommendation from ICAO and the EU, which is expected to improve aviation safety and thereby enhance the appeal of Nepal as a travel destination.

The EU has currently banned Nepali aircraft from entering European airspace due to safety concerns. The proposed division of CAAN is seen as a crucial step in addressing these issues and lifting the ban. Congress MPs stressed that separating the regulatory and service-providing functions of CAAN would ensure more effective oversight and accountability in the aviation sector.

During Prime Minister Oli’s previous tenure, then-Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai had registered a bill in Parliament on February 23, 2020, to separate CAAN. However, this bill became inactive after the dissolution of the House of Representatives on October 17, 2022.

Congress MP Sarita Prasai, who attended the meeting, stated that the Prime Minister is committed to implementing ICAO and EU recommendations. She emphasized that having a single entity for both service provision and regulation has led to ineffective investigation and accountability in aviation accidents.

Prime Minister Oli acknowledged that the bill was previously advanced during his tenure but could not be passed due to the political climate. He expressed a positive outlook towards bringing and implementing the bill soon.

Congress leadership also appears supportive of the split. Congress MPs visited Baluwatar to inform Prime Minister Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba about their demand for the bill on civil aviation, alongside discussions on transitional justice issues between Congress and UML task force members. Congress President Deuba, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba also participated in the discussion.

MP Prasai emphasized, “How can aviation safety be ensured when the same entity makes policies and conducts monitoring? We insist on advancing the bill in this Parliament.” Recent aviation accidents, including the Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara on January 15, 2023, three helicopter crashes, and the Saurya Airlines crash on July 24, have heightened concerns about aviation safety, prompting Congress MPs to stress the urgency of the bill.

Congress MPs also brought the Prime Minister’s attention to the social media comments made by CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari regarding aviation safety issues raised by the MPs.

The delegation to the Prime Minister included Congress MPs Jeevan Pariyar, Dilendra Prasad Badu, Sarita Prasai, Ishwari Neupane, Udaya Shamsher Rana, Rajendra Bajgai, Rajan KC, Sanjay Gautam, Ram Krishna Yadav, Pratima Gautam, Shanti Pariyar, Yogesh Thakali, Kusum Thapa, Sita Mijar, Khambir Garbuja, and Pushpa Bahadur Shah.

This significant move by the Nepali Congress aims to bolster Nepal’s aviation safety standards, enhance its global reputation, and ultimately attract more tourists to explore Nepal’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, thereby boosting the overall tourism sector.