Airline Operators Association warns to halt flights in Solukhumbu area

KATHMANDU: Following a decision to suspend commercial helicopter flights in the central region of Sagarmatha National Park, the Airline Operators Association has warned that it will stop all fixed-wing flights in the area as well.

The association announced that if the ban on private flights in the area is not lifted by Jan 23, it will suspend regular fixed-wing flights to Lukla and other areas of Solukhumbu.

Manoj Karki, the president of the association, issued a statement on Wednesday, warning that if the restrictions imposed by the local municipality are not lifted by next Wednesday, all commercial flights in the region will cease starting Thursday.

On Jan 1, the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality halted all commercial helicopter charter flights for tourists to the Khumbu area.

Following this decision, the Sagarmatha National Park Office in Namche issued a directive on Jan 1 to 11 helicopter companies in Nepal, instructing them not to conduct commercial flights in the protected area.

However, the park office has since reversed its decision.

The municipality claims that the noise pollution caused by helicopter flights has negatively impacted local communities and wildlife habitats in the central region of Sagarmatha National Park, making the ban necessary.

Despite this, the municipality has not lifted the ban on helicopter flights.

The Airline Operators Association argues that the local government does not have the constitutional authority to restrict fundamental rights, asserting that the decision is unlawful.

The municipality has responded by issuing another notice, allowing only emergency rescue helicopter flights and prohibiting other tourist-related flights.

Currently, most helipads in the Khumbu region are blocked by local clubs, forcing the association to stop chartered helicopter flights.