SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, SEP 28 -
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and other domestic carriers are adding special flights during Dashain to cater to the increased number of travellers during the festive season.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), NAC has been permitted to operate 71 additional flights while Tara Air’s application to add 13 flights is being processed. A CAAN official said that airlines usually apply to increase their frequency during the Dashain and Tihar holidays.
“Long-haul routes have adequate surface transportation services, and the additional flights will fulfil the needs of travellers going to remote areas,” said Ram Dinesh Lal Karna, manager at the CAAN flights permission section.
Tara Air currently operates two flights weekly between Kathmandu and Lamidanda, Phaplu, Rumjatar and Ramechhap. The carrier has asked for two additional flights to each destination. Tara flies once a week between Nepalgunj and Simikot, Dolpa, Bajura, Rara and Jumla in the far west sector and has applied to double the frequency.
“CAAN will be closed during the festivals and Tribhuvan International Airport will deal with applications to operate extra flights,” Karna added. The festival rush has started with major domestic airlines reporting a flood of advance bookings. Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Guna Airlines and Agni Air said that seats on the major trunk routes were almost sold out. The rush is most evident on the Kathmandu-Biratnagar and Kathmandu-Bhadrapur sectors with flights from Oct. 8-19 (from Ghatasthapana to the end of the festival) almost all fully booked.
In response to the rush, Buddha Air said that it would be adding one flight on each sector. Yeti Airlines plans to increase the frequency by two-three flights on certain days as per demand.
Agni Air, which currently flies four times to Biratnagar and twice to Bhadrapur daily, plans to add three-four flights to handle the Dashain crowds. Guna Airlines has decided to add three flights
on the eastern sector for Dashain. The carrier also plans to start
operations to Bhadrapur and Bharatpur in October. The major reason behind the scarcity of air seats is that a number of domestic airlines have been out of service for a couple of years.
