Kathmandu, Jan. 13 -- The Tourism Ministry has begun looking for a foreign management partner to run Bhairahawa international airport as it is nearing completion. The successful candidate will be selected through open competition.

The completion date is still uncertain as the second package of the construction work has not started because the coronavirus has prevented the contractor from coming to Nepal. This task will take at least six months, officials said.

Nepal saw rapid growth in passenger and aircraft movement in the last two decades, and the resulting disarray has highlighted the country's inadequate aviation infrastructure and the incompetence of Nepali officials in managing its sole international airport.

Tourism Joint Secret...