The Government of Nepal has planned to resume operations of domestic and international passenger flights from next month.

The country is reporting more recoveries of COVID-19 cases. The number of active coronavirus cases in Nepal dropped to about 6,000 in the last week, while the recovery rate remains impressive at 66.12 per cent.

Mr. Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, has informed in a press release that the ministry had recommended the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center to lift the suspension of domestic flights from August 5, 2020 and international flights from August 17, 2020.

The COVID-19 Crisis Management Center, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Mr. Ishwar Pokharel, was established to coordinate efforts in respond to this deadly virus. The cabinet will decide whether to lift the suspension order from recommended dates or not, on the basis of suggestions given by this centre.

According to the statement by Mr. Yogesh Bhattarai, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the first round of resumption of flight operations will be to and from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

The Government of Nepal had earlier suspended all domestic and international passenger flight operations except repatriation and special flights to deliver medical equipment. Nepal closed its borders to foreign nationals and imposed lockdown on March 24, in a bid to curb the import and spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. However, the government had since July 10 decided to relax the lockdown and allowed to resume the most of the economic activities.

The resumption of air services is expected to bring a boost into the tourism industry which is struggling due to the pandemic. Thousands of people in Nepal’s tourism industry have lost their jobs and many businesses have shut down. As of July 20, Nepal’s tourism industry is estimated to have lost approx US$ 332 million.

In regard to COVID-19 transmission in Nepal, the country has reported a total number of 17,658 confirmed cases which are under treatment and 40 patients have lost their lives due to virus. However, 11,695 patients who tested positive to COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus, as of Monday (July 20).