Kathmandu, June 1: The Indian Airlines resumed its New Delhi-Kathmandu flight after a gap of five months today.

An Indian Airlines aircraft from New Delhi landed at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) at 1:25 p.m. today.

Joint secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India and chairman and general manager of Indian Airlines Sunil Pharora arrived here on board the Indian Airlines Aircraft.

The plane which arrived here with 159 passengers left for New Delhi today with 129 passengers.

Mr Pharora expressed happiness at the resumption of the Indian Airlines flight and appreciated the security measures adopted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to ensure security at the airport.

Expressing his commitment to work in close contact with the concerned bodies of both countries for promoting air links, the chairman of Indian Airlines noted that he is desirous of working together with the government and private sectors for promoting tourism in Nepal.

Kathmandu-New Delhi and Kathmandu-Calcutta flights will resume from tomorrow on a regular basis, while Kathmandu-Varanasi flights will resume within a few weeks, the sources said.

Secondary X-ray screening system has been brought into operation from today at Tribhuvan International Airport.

According to general manager of the Civil Aviation Authority office at TIA Rajesh Raj Dali, Indian Airlines employees are allowed to check passengers just before they get into the plane. Such arrangement can be made for other airlines also on demand, he said.

India had halted its flights to Kathmandu after hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight No. 814 on Dec 24 last year.

In course of ensuring security at the airport, the TIA civil aviation office has already set up the sterile departure hold area, and arrangements have been made for security baggage strips, computerised pass system and baggage make-up area for baggages passing through security checks.

Security at the Tribhuwan International Airport has been maintained as per the international civil aviation convention and annex 17 of national air security.

With the resumption of the Indian Airlines, tourism entrepreneurs look enthusiastic.

Talking briefly after the resumption of Indian Airlines flight, former chairman of the Hotel Association of Nepal and tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya welcomed the operation of flight and said the postponement of the flights had caused loss not only to Nepal but also to India.