Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of opening a direct flight between Manchester Airport and Kathmandu on (a) jobs, (b) investment, (c) tourism and (d) higher education in the UK.

Department for Transport Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with airlines, airports and international partners to facilitate global connectivity.

It is for individual airlines to determine whether to take advantage of the rights and routes available to them within any air services agreement. Market conditions, such as the availability of indirect routing options, often affect the commercial considerations of airlines.