By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 13: Airlines Operators Association Nepal (AOAN) has warned of launching a protest programme if the government does not resume aviation services from September 1.
Issuing a memorandum to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on Wednesday, the AOAN noted that the aviation sector had borne huge loss due to the closure of the service for a long time.
In the memorandum, the AOAN stated that the decision of the government to postpone the date of resumption of aviation services from August 17 to September 1 had also affected the victims of recent floods and landslides, sick and other people.
It is the responsibility of the government to continue the essential services to the needy people, it stated.
The airlines companies had made necessary preparations to operate their service from August 17 as per the earlier decision of the government. The companies have approved the standard operating procedures (SOP) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), read the statement.
The AOAN has claimed that opening of aviation sector during the time of coronavirus infection by maintaining safety measures would not pose high risks as conducting instant contact tracing of air passengers would be easy if needed.
Contact tracing is possible through ticketing system, it stated.
From the closure of the aviation sectors, livelihood of many workers involved in the sector and their families have been severely affected and the companies have been on the verge of collapse, it stated.
The AOAN stated that the airlines operators would be forced to stage a protest if the government did not allow them to operate their service from September 1.