Dhaka: Nepal on June 23 announced to resume international flights from June 24 and domestic services from July, but with restrictions and to limited destinations.

The resumption follows weeks of suspension due to the lockdowns imposed amid the second wave of the coronavirus.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, domestic flights will be allowed to operate with 50 percent seat occupancy from July 1, while international flights will be operated from June 24 as per the safety protocol developed earlier by the government.

"The government has also decided to resume regular international flights to and from Kathmandu to limited destinations. With the new decisions in place, Nepal Airlines and Qatar Airways will be allowed to operate two flights each a week in the Kathmandu-Doha sector," the statement issued by the ministry said.

One flight has been allowed to operate between Kathmandu and New Delhi as per the new schedule, the statement added.

Similarly, it has decided to allow four flights each week in the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur sector, Kathmandu-Istanbul sector, Kathmandu-Dammam, and Kathmandu-Kuwait sectors.

The health authorities have relaxed prohibitory orders in Kathmandu valley since June 23 with the decline in Covid-19 infections for the past few weeks.

Till June 23, the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country was 627,854 while the number of deaths due to the infection stood at 8,894, according to reports.