New air route strengthens Sino-Nepalese ties

With the arrival of Himalaya Airlines' flight H9780 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Saturday, the first international direct flight between Shanghai and Nepal was officially launched, according to the Shanghai Airport Authority. 

The debut of the direct flight comes as Shanghai's aviation market continues its recovery which has been happening since the start of this year, the airport authority added. 

So far, 101 airlines have launched regular flights at Shanghai's two airports, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, reaching 274 destinations in 45 countries across the world. 

The flight between Shanghai and Nepal will initially be operated every Saturday (local time), and from December 20 will be expanded to every Wednesday and Saturday by its operator Himalaya Airlines, which is a joint venture between Nepal and China. 

The direct flight is the latest effort of build an air bridge to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to better promote trade, cultural exchanges and tourism between Nepal and China, and the Yangtze River Delta region in particular.