Malaysia seeks hike in flight frequency to 42 a week

KATHMANDU, MAR 04

Nepal and Malaysia are scheduled to revise their bilateral air service agreement (ASA) to boost the number of air seats as the existing allocation for Malaysian-based airlines has been overwhelmed by a jump in demand.

Malaysia has asked Nepal to raise the frequency to 42 flights weekly from the present 21 flights. The talks will take place in Kathmandu from March 13-14.

“We have proposed the dates for negotiations and signing the pact, and are in the process of seeking the Cabinet’s approval to amend the ASA,” said Suresh Acharya, joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The ministry had proposed to the Malaysian government to discuss changes in the ASA on Monday. The two countries will put forth their proposals on March 13 and the signing ceremony will take place on March 14.

A number of issues such as joint tourism promotion, changes in route schedules and third party code-sharing will also be discussed during the negotiations. Since new international airports are being developed in Nepal, Malaysian-based airlines will be allowed to pick the airport they want to link.

The two countries had last amended the ASA on December 12, 2007 when they agreed to increased the number of direct flights between them to 21 from seven weekly.

Currently, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air and budget carrier Air Asia X offer 28 direct flights weekly on the Kathmandu -Kuala Lumpur route. As the allocated frequency for Malaysian-based airlines has been consumed, the ministry has permitted them to operate seven additional flights under a temporary operating permit scheme.

New entrant Malindo Air started daily scheduled flights between Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur on February 6. Nepal’s national flag carrier Nepal Airlines currently serves the sector with a daily flight. Meanwhile, start-up carrier Himalaya Airlines is also planning to operate on the route.

According to Tribhuvan International Airport statistics, the growth of Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia has been exceptional. In the first six months of 2014, Malaysia Airlines flew 88,686 travellers, up 142.11 percent year on year, while Air Asia flew 105,888 passengers, up 86.46 percent.

Malaysia is the top recruiter of Nepali migrant workers. A rough estimate shows that around 500,000 Nepalis are presently working in Malaysia. According to the Department of Foreign Employment, 156,770 migrant workers left for Malaysia in 2012-13 against 98,367 in 2011-12.

Source: The Kathmandu Post