Kathmandu  : Himalaya Airlines will start direct flights between Kathmandu and Beijing from October 27. This flight is considered as a crucial step for connectivity between the two countries especially because the capital cities of Nepal and China lack direct flights so far.

Himalaya Airlines will operate three flights to Beijing per week in the first phase. The company said that the booking for the first flight has been opened and 130 passengers have already booked one-way tickets, Newbusinessage reported.

Tourism entrepreneurs believe that the operation of direct flights between Kathmandu and Beijing will contribute to an increase in flow of tourists during the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign.

Current, five Chinese airlines companies – Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Sichuan Airlines and Tibet Airlines – have been operating flights between Nepal and China. However, none of the airlines operate direct flights between Beijing and Kathmandu. This has forced passengers to make a transit through either Chengdu, Guangzhou, Lhasa or Kunming.