The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation is set to introduce a new provision to provide enhanced compensation of up to $100,000 to families of passengers who lose their lives in domestic air accidents. Currently, the compensation stands at $20,000 for such incidents.
In response to grievances from affected families, the ministry has proposed amendments to raise the compensation amount. According to ministry sources, this translates to approximately NPR 13.4 million in local currency. The existing legislation governing air traffic operations and insurance, formulated in 2081 BS, will also include provisions for insurance claims for air accident victims.
Confirming the government’s commitment to addressing concerns, ministry officials disclosed that the cabinet has already given preliminary approval for the proposed amendments. “We will now forward the draft to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Law for their endorsement before presenting it in parliament. We hope for swift legislative approval,” stated an official.
Families affected by domestic flight accidents, who previously received $20,000 in compensation, have expressed relief over the proposed increase to $100,000. The ministry plans to implement these changes promptly following parliamentary approval. Additionally, discussions are underway with stakeholders to ensure legal compliance with international aviation standards, including the Montreal Convention of 1999, which governs compensation for international air travel accidents.
In instances of airline negligence leading to passenger fatalities or injuries, the airline companies themselves are liable to provide compensation for loss of life or damage to cargo. This move aims to safeguard passenger rights and ensure adequate compensation in the event of air travel mishaps.
