The ticket rush

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, SEP 18 -

International airlines flying to Nepal have reported massive bookings for the next

two months as the tourism industry enters

the high season.

Major international carriers have received 85 percent bookings on flights into Nepal, said travel trade entrepreneurs. Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Etihad Airways have almost 100 percent bookings for October and November.

Ditto airlines from India. Jet Airways, Jet Lite, Spice Jet, Kingfisher and Indian Airlines have over 80 percent bookings from Sept. 29 to Nov. 20.

“Most of the airlines we deal with are overbooked,” said Siddhartha Thapa, operation director of President Travel. “This is the time when migrant workers also return to the country to celebrate Dashain, hence there is a huge demand for air tickets.”

Some of the international carriers don’t have tickets available for the next two months. “We have been informed that some of the carriers do not have tickets available for the next couple of months,” said Shyam Raj Thapaliya, managing director of Osho World Travels Nepal. International passengers coming from Bangkok, Doha, Oman and Abu Dhabi are facing a seat crunch during the October-November season.

Higher bookings for autumn make a huge difference to the airline sector as it is the main tourist season along with April and May. Around 30 percent of the total tourist arrivals occur during this time.

“Inbound bookings for the coming two months have increased significantly compared to the same period last year,” said Alasdair Boyd, manager of Dragonair in Nepal. According to Boyd, Dragonair has a majority of bookings from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the US. Poor air connectivity has been the major constraint of Nepali tourism with the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation in a sorry state. However, the arrival of more international airlines in Nepali skies has been a compensation. More than half a dozen international airlines have started their service to Nepal since 2009 with Oman Air being the latest entry. As of now, 27 international airlines are operating in Nepal. “The increment in flight movements has upped the overall inbound segment,” said Thapaliya.

The start of the new tourist season has also resulted in an increase in the frequency of flights to Nepal by international airlines. Hong Kong-based Dragonair has recently increased its Hong Kong-Kathmandu service to six flights per week from three flights. It is planning to operate seven days a week from November, subject to government approval.

Airlines with over 100 percent bookings

Thai Airways Booked from Sept. 25-Nov. 28

Qatar Airways Booked from Sept. 26-Dec. 17

Gulf Air Booked from Oct. 10-Dec. 9

Etihad Airways Booked from Oct. 8-Nov. 27