Two Bills, One Aviation Test
Summary
Nepal is moving to split civil aviation regulation from airport and air-navigation operations through two new bills in Parliament. The reforms aim to strengthen safety oversight, improve airport management and address long-standing weaknesses in the country’s aviation system.
Key Points
- The government has registered the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2083 and the Nepal Air Service Authority Bill, 2083 to separate regulatory and service-provider functions in aviation.
- ICAO audits and recent crash investigations have highlighted major weaknesses in Nepal’s aviation oversight, despite some progress in compliance with safety recommendations.
- New airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara have expanded capacity, but international traffic remains heavily concentrated at Tribhuvan International Airport.
- The success of the reforms will depend on whether the new institutions have enough technical capacity, funding and clear accountability to improve safety and commercial performance.
