Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, held discussions with representatives of China Southern Airlines regarding the initiation of flights to Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports. The meeting took place at Singha Durbar, where the airline representatives expressed their enthusiasm for launching flights to these destinations, as confirmed by the Ministry of Tourism.
China Southern Airlines, one of China’s leading airlines serving over 40 countries, already operates regular flights between Guangzhou and Kathmandu. The airline representatives praised the recent policy reforms introduced by Minister Pandey, which have facilitated the possibility of flights to Pokhara and Bhairahawa.
Welcoming China Southern Airlines’ plans to expand services to these international airports, Minister Pandey stated, “We are eager to welcome your flights to Pokhara, the tourism capital, and Bhairahawa, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. This will not only benefit tourism but also strengthen bilateral ties.”
Minister Pandey expressed his confidence that the regular flights by China Southern Airlines would bring mutual benefits to both Nepal and China. He also mentioned that Nepal Airlines could learn valuable lessons on aviation safety from China Southern Airlines’ expertise.
Furthermore, Minister Pandey encouraged the airline to report any issues they may have encountered with Nepal’s aviation system, acknowledging the potential for improvements on Nepal’s part. He emphasized the crucial role that the aviation sector can play in strengthening bilateral relations and advancing mutual interests between the two nations.
