Minister Ale requests EU Ambassador to remove ban on Nepal from EU's safety list

KATHMANDU, MAY 27: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prem Bahadur Ale, has requested European Ambassador to Nepal, Nona Deprez, to lift the ban on Nepal from the EU's Air Safety List. A discussion was held on it between Minister Ale and Ambassador Deprez at the ministry yesterday, according to Minister's personal secretary, Manoj Adhikari. Minister Ale reminded the EU Ambassador that Nepal's aviation sector was safe now.

He further said Nepal's score was 70.1 percent on implementation of safety on eight categories set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which Minister Ale argued, was above the average. "Nepali aviation is safe as per ICAO's indicators. Now, the EU is requested for lifting the ban on Nepal's aviation," he underscored. EU had blacklisted Nepal's aviation sector reasoning poor safety eight years back.

However, the ICAO has already lifted the ban on Nepal with its improved safety indicators. EU had demanded further qualification and training of Nepali pilots to meet international standards. On the occasion, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Er. Pradip Kumar Adhikari, informed the Ambassador that Nepal had managed the training and qualification of pilots in line with international criteria. Currently, Nepal Airlines, Buddha Air, and Himalaya Airlines are ready for the international flight and waiting for EU's nod.

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