The Government of Nepal has appointed Munich Airport (MUC) in Germany to provide consultancy services for the operational readiness and airport transfer (ORAT) operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport (BWA) in Bhairahawa, which is expected to be completed in 2019 (#1088.CON1). Sanjiv Gautam, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said that its Board had approved the proposal to commission a foreign consultancy service for the ORAT operation, and that it had been sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry for approval. He added that reputed foreign airport operators would be inducted through a government-to-government deal. Some officials have said that the Government should fast track the process to bring in the ORAT team. Speaking recently at the Civil Aviation Authority’s 20th anniversary function, Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari said they had initiated the process to induct “a world-class airport operator” to provide consultancy services for the operation of the airport. The Government is under pressure to improve the efficiency of the sole international airport in Kathmandu which is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority. The Government had planned to start commercial operations at Gautam Buddhe International Airport by August 2019 due to better-than-expected progress with its construction. But that does not look like happening due to delays in the implementation of the second phase of the project which involves installing communications, navigation and surveillance (ANS) and air traffic management (ATM) systems [#1088.CON1]. #1105.10