Nepal's domestic airlines may stop service due to fuel crisis

Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), a representative of the private airline companies in Nepal, has said they might halt a certain number of domestic flights on Sunday due to unavailability of aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

It is the first time since the fuel crisis began that domestic airlines are on the verge of not receiving enough fuel.

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the only fuel supplying body in Nepal, has halted providing fuel to international airlines for more than a month, but the domestic airlines were receiving adequate fuel supply.

After Nepal Airline Corporation (NAC), the state owned airline company, which has been airlifting ATF, showed inability to transport fuel under requirement on Saturday, there is not enough ATF with NOC to sell to the airline companies.

Nepal has been facing fuel shortage over last two months after India, the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal, curtailed supply.

Nepal has blamed its southern neighbour for imposing blockade while India has argued that it was not supplying fuel due to obstruction caused by agitating Madhesh (southern plain) based political parties on the border points.

International airlines have been told to refuel their tanks in foreign countries. Enditem