KATHMANDU: The European Union has officially launched two new regional aviation safety initiatives in Kathmandu under the EU–South Asia Aviation Partnership Project, kicking off a two-week gathering of regional aviation authorities, airlines, and technical experts.

Running from June 23 to June 25, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and aircraft manufacturer ATR are co-hosting a Regional Aviation Safety Programme module dedicated to flight crew training, fatigue management, and operational resilience.

At the opening event, Thomas Millar, Chargé d’affaires at the EU Delegation to Nepal, acknowledged the country’s recent submission of a complete Corrective Action Plan package to address European Commission concerns, noting that the EU’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport will review the materials in the coming months.

Following the training module, the focus will shift to a South Asia Regional Initiative workshop scheduled from June 29 to July 2, 2026, which will introduce modern regulatory oversight concepts and the latest European Union Aviation Safety Agency updates on continuing airworthiness.

By transitioning from isolated technical exchanges to a structured, collaborative regional framework, these back-to-back initiatives aim to build safer and more resilient air transport systems.

Funded by the EU and implemented by EASA, this safety drive reinforces Nepal’s growing role as a hub for regional aviation dialogue while aligning with the economic and connectivity goals of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.