We can’t improve our Airlines. So what? Improve our airports.

Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation was born on the same day as Thai Airlines. I don’t need to elaborate how differently they came to be. We had numerous airplanes when we began, but mismanagement and corruption led us to this terrible situation where we only have one or two international airplanes, which are below standard flying condition.

A lot of tourists come to Nepal. However, the number is limited due to high airlines prices. My friends at Princeton University want to come to Nepal, but they don’t have enough money to travel by air. Only few airlines come to Nepal and the price is too high for average vacationer.

How can we get out of this situation? Buying airplanes and improving Nepal Airlines is one option. However, Nepal being a poor country cannot do that. We have enough to deal with already to buy new airplanes. Also, we cannot trust the government to spend such a huge amount because of the history of corruption in that process.

So, what should we do? Build an airport, I say. Build an international airport with international standard. This will have many advantages. The cost of building an international airport will be less than buying an airplane. Also, a good airport attracts a lot of airlines. When the number of airplanes operating in Nepal increases, government will get a lot of service charge, which can then be used to buy airlines.

A good airport will increase competition among airlines, for the monopoly will change into a free and competitive market. This will reduce the prices. Even if we believe that there is already a free market, increased airlines means increase in supply, which will reduce prices. Reduced prices will attract more people into Nepal. This will dramatically raise Nepal’s income.

The airport we make should not be like Tribhuwan International Airport. It should have sound infrastructure and good administration. Plus, there should be transit lounges. A big problem with Nepal’s airport is that there is no place for transit. People have to come out of the airport to catch next flight.

When the airport in Nepal includes a transit space, Nepal can be a transit hub in the region, much like Thailand. This will drastically increase the number of Airlines and tourists coming to Nepal. For example: Lets say there is someone in Middle East who wants to go to East Asia. They can take a plane to Nepal, and then travel to East Asia. Also, it can serve as a transit for Australia.

Now arises the question: Where should it be made? Kathmandu already has an international airport and improving it will not work. Kathmandu is also a dangerous place to land lots of planes due to its hills. Some people have mentioned Pokhara and Lumbini, but Lumbini is not developed enough to handle an international airport and Pokhara has the same geographical problem as Kathmandu. Chitwan would be the best place to establish an international airport.

Chitwan will be a great place for the new airport. However, rules have to be made such that this won’t lead to overpopulation in Chitwan, like it is in Kathmandu. There should be transparency in the dealings for the airport. Management of the airport should be done effectively and efficiently.

Tourism is our best hope for future. And, an international-standard airport in Chitwan with many runways and a transit space is the best option we have.