Nepal Splits Aviation Authority Amid Safety Woes

Nepal is initiating a significant restructuring of its aviation oversight by proposing to divide the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two distinct bodies. This strategic move is designed to bolster air safety standards throughout the country.

Under the proposed framework, one agency will be solely dedicated to the critical functions of aviation safety regulation and oversight. The second entity will be responsible for managing airports, aviation infrastructure, and the provision of related services.

This division is intended to eliminate the inherent conflict of interest present in the current single-agency structure, thereby strengthening safety oversight credibility. The initiative comes in response to a concerning history of aviation accidents in Nepal, which have resulted in numerous fatalities and led to the European Union imposing flight bans on Nepali airlines.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel stated that two draft bills have been submitted to parliament to facilitate this change, with a new Nepal Air Service Authority (NASA) to be created. While parliamentary approval may take several months, Nepal is also implementing other safety enhancements, including improved industry training.