Kathmandu- A team from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) arrived in Nepal today to conduct a technical assistance mission focused on the country's aviation safety.

During the three-day mission, the EASA team will assess the progress and implementation of recommendations from its previous audit report.

The evaluation, scheduled from February 24 to 26, will primarily focus on Nepal Airlines Corporation, Shree Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). Based on their findings, the EASA will determine whether the current ban on Nepali airlines flying into the European Union should be lifted or maintained.

In an earlier audit conducted from September 11 to 15, 2023, the EASA team identified significant shortcomings in NAC’s regulatory capacity and overall management. The report stressed the need for structural reforms, highlighting concerns over its safety management system, airworthiness oversight, maintenance organization, and skilled workforce.

Shree Airlines, on the other hand, received positive feedback for its operational standards. However, the audit recommended adopting additional measures to further enhance its procedures.

The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nepal in improving air safety and acknowledged CAAN’s director general for his dedication and efforts in this regard.

Despite the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) removing Nepal from its aviation blacklist in July 2017, the EU has maintained its ban on Nepali airlines since December 5, 2013, citing concerns over weak safety standards.