SANGAM

Maoist strike hits domestic airlines
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, MAY 04 - The nationwide indefinite strike called by the UCPN (Maoist) has compelled domestic airlines to cut down the number of regular flights across the country since two days. Airlines officials said that they were compelled to cut the number of regular flights by over 40 percent due to low passenger bookings. If the strike prolongs, regular flight movement may reduce by over 60 to 70 percent, different airlines officials said. According to them, the cancellation of a single flight results in the loss of at least Rs 100,000. They said the lingering strike may compel their companies to cut more of the regular flights. Buddha Air said that passenger movement had dropped to 540 from the usual 1,500 each day. "We have reduced our regular flight operations by more than 50 percent," said Rupesh Joshi, marketing manager of Buddha Air. According to him, Pokhara and Biratnagar sector flights have been reduced to a single flight per day from the regular four per day. Similarly, Agni Air has totally stopped the Kathmandu-Biratnagar sector flight on Monday. There were four daily flights in the sector. "On Sunday, there was a single flight in the sector and we have decided to operate one aircraft in Biratnagar on Tuesday," said Pramod Pandey, marketing manager of Agni Air. According to him, regular flights in Bhairahawa and Bhadrapur have been reduced to just one per day. Earlier, the airline was operating three regular flights in each sector. Pandey said that on Tuesday they have planned two flights against the regular four flights. However, flights in Lukla and Jomsom have not been affected. The airline is operating five regular flights in Lukla and three in Jomsom. He said that there was some tourist movement in Lukla and Jomsom, and as a result the airline remained unaffected. "We are bearing a 40 percent loss daily compared to what we used to collect when the fare collection was normal," Pandey said. Yeti Airlines has reduced its regular flights by 50 percent due to low passenger bookings in different sector. The airline has also merged its Kathmandu-Dhangadi sector flights with its Nepalgunj flight. Binay Shakya, manager of Yeti Airlines, said they were compelled to reduce a dozen flights to two flights in Pokhara, three flights in Bhadrapur and two in Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa, respectively, on Sunday. Guna Airlines also has cut three flights in the Kathmandu-Pokhara sector from its regular five flights. Prajwol Thapa, marketing manager of Guna Airlines, said flights in the Kathmandu-Biratnagar sector were totally cancelled on Sunday. The airline used to operate two regular flights in the sector. "However, flights scheduled in Simra remain unaffected," he said.