Outbound Nepali migrant workers who were supposed to be fly to different work destinations on Wednesday found themselves at the receiving end as their flights got cancelled after a Turkish Airlines plane crash-landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Not only their flights were cancelled but their airlines also refused to offer them accommodation, save the foreign passengers.

The stranded Nepali passengers accused the airlines companies of systematic discrimination against them.

An estimated 2,000 Nepalis were supposed to board the planes, most of them to the Gulf and Malaysia. After the Turkish Airlines flight met with the accident, TIA authorities cancelled all international flights until 4 pm on Thursday.

“The airlines officials told us to arrange our own accommodation. They told us that they were not responsible for the flight cancellation. We are confused what to do. The Nepali money we had, we exchanged for Malaysian currency,” said Amar Bista of Bijayapur, Baitadi.

Bista and a group of people from his village were waiting to board an Air Asia 193 flight to Malaysia. With their flight cancelled, the airlines refusing to put them up for the night and with only foreign currency at their disposal, Bista and his companions had no option but to walk all the way to Basundhara, where their recruiting agency, Gurung Management Overseas, is located. Those who had come from far-flung villages were particularly affected by the flight cancellation. 

Karma Bir Gharti Magar of Pyuthan was supposed to fly to Qatar on a Fly Dubai flight. He was waiting at the airport, clearly confused and worried.

“My manpower agent has asked me to wait here until 7 in the evening. I will decide where to go afterwards. The airlines should have taken care of us,” Magar said.

While Gharti Magar stayed put, quietly reflecting on his predicament, other passengers were vocal in their protestation against the airlines. Many were chanting slogan against the airlines and the airport authorities.

 “They are taking care of foreigners and ignoring us. This is unacceptable,” said Kumar Khadka, who was scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia in Oman Airways.

Representatives of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) said Nepali migrant workers often face discrimination from the airlines. Bal Bahadur Tamang, former chairman of NAFEA, claimed Nepali migrants are mistreated by the airlines and their staff, though they are their primary passengers.  

 “Nepali migrant workers constitute 90 percent passengers of all flights headed to the Gulf and Malaysia. Unfortunately, they get the worst treatment,” Tamang said.

TIA authorities said they had categorically instructed the airlines to take care of the passengers. They said those not taking care of the passengers will face action.

“We have also asked other stakeholders, including the manpower agencies, for cooperation as this is an emergency situation. If Nepali migrant workers are really being excluded, we will take this issue before the airlines officials,” said Purna Prasad Chudal, manager of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Hari Man Lama, general sales agent of Air Asia, claimed his company informed the concerned agents to take care of passengers who had reached the airport. “In such situation, we take care of those who have reached the airport, not those who are outside. And we don’t think our passengers were inside the airport,” Lama said.

Although there were reports about some of the airlines, including the Qatar Airways, arranging shelter for some of the stranded workers, it could not be confirmed.

Published on: 5 March 2015 | The Kathmandu Post