Nepal Airlines coming to Australia

[jase05]

Interesting story in the Kathmandu Post and seems talks have been going on for some time and they will operate twice per week to SYD via SIN

Four years after deal, Nepal Airlines prepping to operate flights to Australia

The state-owned carrier plans to fly to Sydney on Tuesdays and Fridays with a stopover in Singapore. Over 100,000 Nepalis travel between the city and Kathmandu every year.

kathmandupost.com

 

[Gold Member]

Believe it when I see it

 

[justinbrett]

I'm surprised they can fly fifth freedom between SIN/SYD.

The treaty with Nepal isn't published yet (only signed in 2019) so can't check the text but from other sources seems we've given this freedom away (not sure what AU gets out of that treaty - I can't see QF or JQ flying there). The news article below suggests it was going to go via CAN.

Nepal, Australia to sign air service agreement

Australia will permit seven weekly flights to key cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

kathmandupost.com

 

[Mattg]

That would be an interesting fifth-freedom option on SYD-SIN!

 

[kelvedon]

I think they’re still on the EU and UK banned airlines list.

 

[Mattg]

I think they’re still on the EU and UK banned airlines list.

I do recall Nepal Airlines operating a charter flight/s to CBR during COVID to bring Australians back from Nepal. I assume they wouldn't have been able to do this if they were on some sort of Australian blacklist?

 

[justinbrett]

I think they’re still on the EU and UK banned airlines list.

I do recall Nepal Airlines operating a charter flight/s to CBR during COVID to bring Australians back from Nepal. I assume they wouldn't have been able to do this if they were on some sort of Australian blacklist?

Australia doesn't have a banned operators list (also for what it's worth, the reason Nepal Airlines is on the EU banned list is not so much the airline itself, but that it doesn't recognise the Nepalese aviation authority as trustworthy and therefore can't validate any Nepalese operator). The actual EU text says "All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Nepal, including..."

They are not on the US blacklist (US bans countries not carriers) but do also not have a rating. FAA started an assessment in Oct last year but the results are still pending.

In Australia foreign airlines must apply for a CASA Foreign Air Operators Certificate. This only applies to more than 8 flights in a 12 month period, so the previous covid flights only require what's called a non-scheduled flight permission.

Nepal did fairly good on their ICAO safety assessment, 70% but were below average in the areas of organisation and accident investigation which I think speak more to the regulator itself than the carriers. It was above average in the key areas of legislation, airworthiness, licencing and operations. I think Nepal Airlines specifically should be able to get a Foreign AOC.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

The more the merrier!

 

[jase05]

Appears to be one step closer and aiming for its maiden trip on June 21st

Nepal Airlines a step closer to launching flights to Australia

The airline has officially secured a slot from the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and plans to launch its maiden flight to Sydney on June 21.

kathmandupost.com

 

[justinbrett]

Appears to be one step closer and aiming for its maiden trip on June 21st

Nepal Airlines a step closer to launching flights to Australia

The airline has officially secured a slot from the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and plans to launch its maiden flight to Sydney on June 21.

kathmandupost.com

This is a better article - the final hurdle is CASA approval, not "landing permits" as per the first article.

Nepal Airlines to fly Sydney, Received the slot | Aviation Nepal

Nepal Airlines Corporation has received a flight time (slot) to fly Sydney, Australia. Sydney Airport has given permission and slots to the

www.aviationnepal.com

 

[jase05]

Thanks.
Very interesting option and would love to try it out

 

[AIRwin]

Appears to be one step closer and aiming for its maiden trip on June 21st

Was it launched?

 

[jase05]

Was it launched?

Nope.
Have heard nothing further mentioned since the article was posted