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July 27, 2007
Singapore-Kathmandu Direct Flights From
October
Silk Air, the regional wing of
Singapore Airlines (SA), will be starting its scheduled flights on
Singapore-Kathmandu route from the end of October this year.
“We are working out plans in this
regard and hope to target tourist traffic,” said Foo Chai Woo, General
Manager of SA for India. Mr. Foo disclosed this at a press conference
organized in Kathmandu on Thursday (July 26, 2007).
The airline will fly three times a
week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). After the carrier starts its
flights, there will be direct air connections between Singapore and
Kathmandu. There have been no direct air connections between the two
destinations since SA stopped its services five years ago.
Mr. Foo hoped that the Government
of Nepal would provide incentives to the carrier.
With its 140-seater Airbus A-320
family aircraft, the carrier plans to cater to leisure traffic out of
Singapore and facilitate easy connections for customers from Australia,
New Zealand, Japan and Europe, which are important source markets for
inbound tourism to Nepal.
In a press statement issued by the
carrier, David Lim, Silk Air’s Vice-President (Commercial), said that
they were thrilled by the opportunity to fly to Kathmandu. “We are
looking forward to the conclusion of the agreements between the aviation
authorities of Nepal and Singapore.”
David said that Nepal’s
unparalleled natural beauty and diverse attractions would make it more
than just a trekking destination and they were eager to make it easier
for more visitors to enjoy its splendor.
Speaking at the press conference,
Mr. Manjit Grewal, Manager of SA for North India, said that Kathmandu
would be the carrier’s round-the-year destination.
According to him, Silk Air would
extend SA’s footprint in Asia by providing connections from Singapore to
28 other exotic destinations in the region.
On the occasion, Mr. Yajna Raj
Gautam, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal
(CAAN), Mr. Subash Nirola, Officiating Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Mr. Rabindra Raj Pandey, General Manager
of Everest Express Tours and Travel, GSA for SA and Silk Air in Nepal,
expressed the hope that the flight resumption from Singapore would be of
great help for Nepal’s tourism sector.
Voted as “Best Regional Airline”
for the seventh time by members of Asia Pacific’s Travel Trade in the
annual TTG Travel Awards, the carrier has a fleet of 14 Airbus A-320,
with 12 more of the same type on firm order and options for a further
nine.
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