KATHMANDU, NEPAL: Government of Nepal has extended the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights to and from Nepal until May 31 midnight.
The suspension period of International schedule flights (except two flights a week between Kathmandu and New Delhi, one flight each by Nepal Airlines and Air India, under Air travel Bubble Arrangement) is extended till 31st May 2021 (23:59 hrs NST), “the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal(CANN) said on Tuesday in its notice.
“Airlines are informed not to open passenger booking to and from Nepal until further advice and also notified to facilitate refunding of Air Ticket or extension of travel date as required by passengers”, the authority said in its notice.
Nepal earlier on May 2 decided to halt all domestic flights from May 3 midnight and all international flights from May 7 midnight until May 14 to check the rapidly growing spread of the Covid-19.
Prohibitory orders in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur is in place since April 29 also extended until May 27.
Monarchist activist and medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai has been arrested from his home in Bhaktapur ahead of a fresh protest campaign, as police accuse him of using provocative language that could incite violence and disrupt public order.
Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport resumed operations about four hours after a runway-lighting failure halted flights around 5:30 p.m. local time. Officials say the cause is under review and normal schedules are expected to stabilize soon.
Gold and silver declined in Nepal on Wednesday. FENEGOSIDA listed fine gold at Rs 237,200 per tola (down Rs 1,100) and silver at Rs 2,990 (down Rs 25), tracking global prices near $3,970/oz. Local rates have eased since the October 17 record of Rs 258,000 per tola.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki pledged a sweeping anti-corruption drive, saying officials are reopening files, making arrests, and facing down outside pressure after a Baluwatar meeting with parties and Gen-Z representatives.
Nepal’s Supreme Court declined an interim order on 16 petitions challenging the House dissolution and issued a show-cause directive, giving respondents seven days to file written replies.
