The Dutch charter airline, Martinair, will begin weekly flights between Amsterdam and Kathmandu, replacing the link that is being vacated by Transavia airlines from April. Martinair is a bigger airline with widebody Boeing 767s in its fleet. Nepali Consul General in Amsterdam, Cas de Stoppelaar, said the service would be an important link not only for the Dutch market, but also for the rest of northwest Europe. Yogendra Shakya at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) says he is encouraged that the entry of Martinair into Nepal would bring in business for the ailing tourism industry. The weekly flights are scheduled to begin from 8 October 2003.