Himalaya Airlines to begin flights within 'few weeks'
KATHMANDU, Oct 29:
Himalaya Airlines, the country´s first international airline company, established with huge foreign investment, has sped up works to start commercial flights within a few weeks.
The airline is promoted by Yeti World Investment and HIF Aviation Investment Company from Nepal and Tibet Airlines Ltd from the People´s Republic of China.
“We are in process of receiving Air Operation Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and will get it within a few weeks,” informed Chairman of HIF Aviation Investment Company Prithvi Bahadur Pande, “Flights will start soon after getting AOC.”
During a function organized by the airlines on Tuesday in honor of Visiting Chairman of the Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People´s Republic of China Luosang Jiangcun, Pande said that Himalaya will make significant contribution for tourism promotion in Nepal, China and Tibet.
He said the arrival of Chinese tourists to Nepal will rise significantly after the airline commences flights. Nepal was placed within top ten destination of the world visited by Chinese in the list prepared by China in 2002.
Pande said arrival of Chinese tourists increased significantly after that. “Our aim is to bring maximum Chinese tourists,” he added.
During the function, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai said the establishment of the airlines, century-long relationship between Nepal and China has reached a greater height. He was of the opinion that it will contribute to promotion and development of bilateral tourism. “The Chinese government extends full support to these types of economic cooperation between Nepal and Tibet,” envoy Wu said, “ I would like to assure you that we will extend all sorts of help from our side.”
Likewise, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said China is a major development partner of Nepal, which has been reciving assistance from China in the field of tourism, hydropower, and infrastructure development, among others.
“Himalaya Airlines is the first big foreign investment in Nepal´s aviation industry,” Mahat said, “The increase in arrival of Chinese tourists will contribute to our economy.”
Chairman of the Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People´s Republic of China Luosang Jiangcun said, “I hope Himalaya will be milestone in the aviation sector of Nepal and Tibet,” he said, “Air China extends full support as it hold 30 per cent share in Tibet Airlines.”
Himalaya is an airline company established with an investment of Rs 2.25 billion. Tibet Airlines holds 49 percent stake in the company while HIF Aviation Investment and Yeti World Investment jointly own the remaining 51 percent.
Source: Republica
