3 May 2002SINGAPORE – The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) says it might have to work with Thai Airways or its national carrier Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation when Singapore Airlines suspends its Singapore-Kathmandu flights from May 31.
SIA announced this week it will suspend the thrice-weekly flights to the Nepalese capital as part of its "ongoing review of its network and capacity in what is still an uncertain operating environment."
NTB’s chief executive officer Pradeep Raj Pandey told TravelWeekly they are taking this matter up with SIA adding that "solutions have to be looked upon through TG and RA, which are flying the Bangkok-Kathmandu sector" if SIA suspends its operation.
He said SIA is the sixth major air carrier to Nepal and in the last 10 years has contributed on an average 2.6 percent of the overall visitors arrival to Nepal by air.
"Besides SIA, no airlines operate between Kathmandu and Singapore. So there will be some impact when SIA suspends its flights in this sector," said Pandey.
SIA flew about 12,700 passengers last year to Nepal, mainly Americans, Canadians, Japanese, Australians and Singaporeans.