India allows one air corridor to Nepal

India has agreed to allow inbound flights to use the L626 route that enters Nepal from the west over Mahendranagar, but only for aircraft flying at an altitude of 15,000 to 24,000 ft, which experts say is too low for jets, according to Nepalese media reports.
“India had already approved the Mahendranagar route. It is not operationally feasible for jets to fly so low,” said Sanjiv Gautam, former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. “It is only good for Buddha Air if it wishes to serve New Delhi, not other airlines.” Flying below 28,000 ft is not feasible because of the operational cost. The thinner air at high altitudes offers less resistance, allowing planes to burn less fuel. “Thus, it is more efficient to fly at high altitudes,” said Gautam.
We discussed an additional air entry route. Nepal welcomes India's positive indication of air entry routes for bilateral flights. It is operationally feasible for ATR-type aircraft,” Dahal told a press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
Nepal Prime minister Dahal indicated that he was positive India would consider opening air entry points to facilitate international flights, particularly those coming over western Nepal to the two new international airports in Bhairahawa
and Pokhara. “We request the approval of a high-altitude additional air entry route from Mahendranagar at an early date,” Dahal told the press conference.
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We appreciate India's approval for near-border flight operations at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa,” the prime minister said. “We would like to have flights from Nepal's newly built international airports to various cities in India.”