Nepal’s EU air safety delisting plan at risk as aviation bills stall
Summary
Nepal’s plan to leave the European Commission’s air safety list by mid-January 2027 is in jeopardy after key aviation bills stalled in Parliament. The delay threatens reforms to split the civil aviation regulator and service provider ahead of an ICAO safety audit next year.
Key Points
- Two crucial aviation bills reached Parliament too late and stalled after prorogation, putting Nepal’s EU air safety delisting plan at risk.
- The government had set a mid-January 2027 deadline to split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal into separate regulatory and service-provider bodies.
- Nepal plans to invite ICAO’s USOAP audit next year, but the lack of new legislation means the audit will likely review old laws and documents.
- EU Ambassador Véronique Lorenzo said the EU wants confidence restored in Nepal’s aviation sector, while emphasizing independence of functions rather than a mandated legal split.
