KATHMANDU — Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister, Tim Watts, expressed optimism regarding the proposed flight connectivity between Australia and Nepal, emphasizing its potential to bring the two nations closer together and foster increased trade and tourism. Watts conveyed his remarks during a two-day visit to Nepal, coinciding with Nepal Airlines’ preparations to commence operations to Australia, following the signing of an air service agreement four years ago.
Addressing an event in Patan, where the wooden tundaal (temple strut) of the 13th-century Ratneshwar Temple at Sulima Square was handed over, Watts highlighted the significance of the initiative to introduce direct flights between Australia and Nepal. He acknowledged the existing collaboration between the two countries on various fronts, including climate change, disaster preparedness, and good governance, while expressing enthusiasm for new endeavors that would enhance connectivity and foster a closer bond between the people of Australia and Nepal.
Nepal Airlines plans to operate flights to Sydney, with stopovers in Singapore, on Tuesdays and Fridays, utilizing the fifth freedom right to facilitate passenger pick-ups or drop-offs in Singapore during both outbound and inbound flights. With Sydney being Australia’s largest city and home to a significant Nepali population, this service holds considerable potential.
The air service agreement between Nepal and Australia was signed in Montreal, Canada, in October 2019, paving the way for commercial air services between the two countries. Under the agreement, the Australian government has granted permission for seven weekly flights from Nepal to major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and Perth, as well as unrestricted flights to other Australian destinations. Correspondingly, Australian carriers are allowed to operate seven weekly flights to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, along with an additional 28 weekly services to Bhairahawa and Pokhara. The agreement also enables seamless cargo movement and provisions for third-country and domestic code-sharing.
During the ceremonial handover of the tundaal, which was stolen from the temple in 1975 and later acquired by an Australian collector, the Australian Embassy announced that the artifact had been returned to its rightful place. The Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Dr. Michael Brand, presented the tundaal to the head priest of the Ratneshwar Temple, Heramba Raj Rajopahdyay, in the presence of Suresh Adhikari, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Chiri Babu Maharjan, the Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City.
