KATHMANDU: Tourism Minister Khadak Raj Paudel stated that a shortage of passengers is the primary reason most airports in hilly regions lack regular flight operations.

Responding to lawmakers in the National Assembly, he noted that out of Nepal’s 55 airports, 34 are currently operational while 21 remain closed.

Minister Paudel assured that the government is ready to deploy technical staff and equipment to closed facilities, such as Kalikot’s Suntharali Airport, as soon as a consistent flow of passengers can be guaranteed.

He added that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has sufficient personnel and equipment, which are currently being prioritized for active airports rather than non-operational ones.