Humla. KATHMANDU: The office of three private airlines based in Humla district has been padlocked demanding smooth and transparent air ticket distribution for the Simkot-Nepalgunj route.

Youths of Simkot Rural Municipality-5, the district headquarters, had been complaining about the distribution of air tickets in collusion without transparency and the problem in distributing tickets on the basis of lottery. They had padlocked the offices of three private airlines over the issue. An all-party meeting presided over by Chief District Officer Tek Kumar Regmi on Saturday decided to remove the padlock.

The meeting held in the presence of chiefs and representatives of the political parties available in the district and people’s representatives reached an agreement to compulsorily distribute two air tickets to the sick in each flight, the District Administration Office would recommend for three government employees and three tickets would be distributed online by issuing advance notice, said Chief District Officer Regmi.

Likewise, the government has decided to distribute one ticket each to the locals of ward 5 and 6 of Simkot Rural Municipality on the recommendation of the ward office while the airlines will distribute the remaining tickets on the basis of priority and convenience.

Simkot Rural Municipality-5 and 6 are set to get reservation seats for the first time. Earlier, tickets were distributed on the basis of allowance in the fifteen-seater aircraft. This schedule will be applicable in all flights of Sita, Summit, Tara and Nepal Airlines operating flights to Simkot Airport.

The youths of Simkot had padlocked the offices of all airlines on Saturday morning accusing them of irregularities in the distribution of air tickets. The local administration held a meeting with representatives of youths, security agencies, political parties and airlines immediately after learning about the padlock. The lock was unlocked immediately after the meeting was decided.