The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has imposed a temporary ban on both regular and charter flights of Thai Air Asia in Nepal until further notice. This decision follows the airline's unauthorized entry into Nepal's airspace on Sunday, carrying passengers from Thailand without the required flight permissions. Additionally, the airline’s official General Sales Agent (GSA) in Nepal, Universal Tours and Travel, has had its license suspended.

CAAN spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul explained, “The airline arrived in Nepal without adhering to the winter flight schedule, which began on Sunday (October 27). As a result, all flights of Thai Air Asia to Nepal have been canceled until further decisions are made, and the GSA’s license has been revoked.” Bhul noted that the responsibility for Thai Air Asia’s entry into Nepal without approval lies with its GSA, hence the agent’s suspension. 

According to CAAN, Thai Air Asia had previously planned to operate out of Bhairahawa Airport starting with the winter season, rather than from Kathmandu. The authority had set a specific condition that restricted Thai Air Asia from operating flights solely from Kathmandu Airport under the new schedule. However, violating these terms, the aircraft was found to be operating on its summer schedule, arriving in Kathmandu rather than Bhairahawa. The airline’s violation of the set condition prompted CAAN to initiate the suspension.

As the unauthorized flight was held in the airspace for nearly an hour, CAAN eventually allowed it to land under a special charter permit, prioritizing passenger safety and air traffic control efficiency. The manager of Tribhuvan International Airport, Jagannath Niraula, explained that the previous summer flight permit expired on Saturday, while winter schedules commenced on Sunday. Niraula stated, “The airline was required to obtain seasonal permissions for both summer and winter schedules. Although the summer authorization expired on Saturday, the airline’s Nepal representative assured it would be handled, leading to the unauthorized arrival.”

This incident has highlighted the importance of strict regulatory compliance in Nepal’s aviation sector, with authorities reinforcing adherence to seasonal schedules and the mandatory renewal of flight permissions.

Air Asia