. Who does not want to go to the village and enjoy with relatives and friends during Dashain, and 1, but it is very difficult for those who want to go home by plane during Dashain. Airlines have already booked tickets for most destinations a month in advance.
Although the airline has opened ticket booking online, it is difficult for passengers to get tickets online. Forget about the discounted tickets, it is also possible to get expensive tickets.
The airfare from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi, the longest destination, costs more than Rs 17,TAG_OPEN_div_85 000. There are 9,700 in Biratnagar. Nisha Pandey of Dhangadhi wandered for many days in search of air tickets even though it was expensive. I barely got an expensive air ticket. He has another worry about how to return from Dhangadhi. Basanta Raj Joshi of Bajhang had to face a lot of trouble to get a ticket for Dashain this year as in the previous years. Sangita Sapkota of Morang did not get a flight ticket to Biratnagar and left for her destination by car.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the airlines companies time and again to reduce air fares after complaints of high air fares increased.TAG_OPEN_div_83 The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation recently held discussions with CAAN office-bearers and representatives of airlines companies to ease flights during the Dashain festival.
When asked why airfare is expensive every year during Dashain, Gyanendra Bhul, information officer of CAN, says, “Now everyone is saying that air fare has become expensive.TAG_OPEN_div_81 We have been constantly directing the airlines to make the airfare cheaper. As per the directive, Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines have sold tickets up to Rs 12,500 out of the maximum fare of Rs 17,000 for Dhangadhi. ”
The information officer mistakenly said that it is necessary to be clear about the airfare system as this problem is repeated every time.TAG_OPEN_div_79 As per the provisions of the Civil Aviation Authority Act, 2053 BS, CAAN would recommend on determining the fare charged for passenger or cargo in Nepal and the government of Nepal would determine the fare for passengers and cargo and the Director General of CAAN would take action against the airlines concerned if the fare is not implemented.
According to Information Officer Bhool, there are two regulations framed under the NRA Act.TAG_OPEN_div_77 Service providers and regulators. These include Airport Service Fee Regulations, 2078 and Civil Aviation Regulations 2058. According to the Civil Aviation Regulations, the international airfare is determined on the basis of the agreement with which the air agreement is signed. Currently, Nepal has signed bilateral air service agreements with 42 countries. Most countries have an ‘open pricing’ (free pricing) which determines the airfare on the basis of demand and supply.
Information Officer Bhool said that the airlines cannot charge more than the fixed fare as the government fixes the maximum and minimum airfare on the basis of the cost of the airlines.TAG_OPEN_div_75 According to him, the fare is determined in two ways. Regular and chartered flights. The fares for both these flights have to be approved by CAN.
He said, “In regular flights, if the aircraft is less than 5,700 kg or less than 19 seats, then there is a single fare system.”TAG_OPEN_div_73 For example, the fare of Twin Otter flying from Kathmandu to Lukla is the same. However, the government can fix the minimum and maximum fare for ATR aircraft above 19 seats on the basis of the cost of the airline and the airlines can determine the minimum and maximum fare.
Currently TAG_OPEN_div_71, the airfare to Biratnagar is Rs 5,100 to Rs 9,700. Airlines can sell tickets from Rs 5,100 to Rs 9,700. However, it is illegal to take less than Rs 5,100 and more than Rs 9,700.
He said that the fare from Kathmandu to Biratnagar will be determined on the basis of the cost rate of the airlines.TAG_OPEN_div_69 The airfare fixed by the government in 2073 BS is still intact. The airfare will be determined based on four factors—price of aviation fuel, the nature of aircraft, passenger service charge and 13 percent tax. Previously, fares were fixed on the basis of small aircraft.
At present, ATR-72 and CIAJ aircraft are operating in the market, which is also said to have increased the airfare.TAG_OPEN_div_67 According to officials, aviation fuel is the most expensive in South Asia in Nepal. Airlines have been attributing high fares due to aviation fuel, airport fees and 13 percent tax.
Airlines say that the fares can be reduced only if the state gives concessions in fuel, airport fees and taxes.TAG_OPEN_div_65
How do airfares increase ?
Airlines operators say that the fare will be expensive to manage the operating cost as they have to operate one-way empty seat aircraft from Kathmandu.TAG_OPEN_div_61 The war between Russia and Ukraine has made ship parts expensive. The price of aviation fuel has gone up. According to the companies, the airfare has become expensive due to these reasons. The government-owned Nepal Airlines has a weak presence in the domestic market. About 90 percent of the domestic share is from private airlines.
“This problem occurs for two months every year. There are 30 aircraft flying to the destination. There are 10 long-distance aircraft. Seating capacity is fixed. More than 10,000 passengers fly daily. Currently, 4.5 million passengers travel by air annually while 5 million passengers travel internationally. Now, there is no talk of adding aircraft only for two months. Therefore, it is difficult to make the airfare cheaper due to the flight pressure,” said the information officer of CAN.
He said that even legally, airlines are not able to sell air tickets at low prices.TAG_OPEN_div_57 To reduce the airfare, we should go for a single fare or give fuel subsidy and tax exemption. Only then will the problem be solved, he says. Otherwise, he argues that it will be difficult for the airlines to operate only to reduce the fare.
He said that the fares would be cheaper if the airline was supported during the Dashain and other festivals by operating the Air Fund.TAG_OPEN_div_55 It seems that the airfare should be adjusted by making policy reforms so that both airlines and passengers do not suffer.
Manoj Karki, president of the Airlines Service Operators Association of Nepal, said that the airlines have not charged more than the maximum fare fixed during Dashain.TAG_OPEN_div_53 He said that the fare has become a bit expensive as there is a lot of pressure of passengers going to districts outside Kathmandu and there are no returnees.
The airline companies say that the booking of air tickets has been completed a month before the Dashain festival.TAG_OPEN_div_51 There are complaints that they are charging high fares on this pretext.
According to Tribhuvan International Airport, there is a lot of pressure on domestic and international flights due to Dashain.TAG_OPEN_div_49 TIA spokesperson Rinji Sherpa said there is a lot of pressure on the flights from the day of Ghatasthapana to the internal Bijaya Dashami. There are around 160 one-way flights daily. Around 120 flights are being operated daily in the country.
Private sector Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines have claimed that they have not charged more than the fixed fare.TAG_OPEN_div_47 According to them, it is difficult to get air tickets in some destinations due to the influx of passengers during Dashain.
There used to be around 350 domestic and international flights from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on a daily basis, but now more than 450 flights are operated daily.TAG_OPEN_div_45 In the domestic sector, 21 airlines companies including 12 helicopter companies are providing service.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्