Aircraft charter industry responds to Nepalese tragedy

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Following the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on 25th April this year, measuring 8.1 on the Richter Scale, the aircraft charter industry has been busy trying to help the survivors with relief goods and search and rescue teams.

Leading aircraft charter specialist, Air Charter Service, has already completed more than 50 charter flights into and out of Kathmandu, with more booked over the coming weeks. Commercial Director, Justin Lancaster, commented: “Initially it was difficult for anyone to fly aid into the region straight after the disaster. Kathmandu is the only international airport in Nepal and is relatively small, meaning that only a few aircraft could fly in at any one time. Scheduled passenger flights, emergency rescue flights and military operations were being allocated top priority and landing permits and overflight permissions were taking up to four days to be processed.