Airlines stop selling discounted tickets as passenger demand surges

KATHMANDU: Due to an increase in passenger demand, airlines have stopped selling tickets at discounted rates.

Continuous rainfall since Thursday has triggered floods and landslides in various parts of the country, disrupting road networks.

This situation has led to heavy criticism as airlines have halted the sale of lower-priced tickets.

Several major highways connecting districts to Kathmandu are currently blocked due to the floods and landslides. In such a scenario, air travel has become the only option for many travelers, and the significant increase in airfare has sparked outrage.

Gyandendra Bhul, the information officer at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), stated that the increase in airfare is likely due to the rise in passenger demand, given the current road blockages.

“The fare charged by the airlines is not illegal. CAAN has set minimum and maximum fare limits, and airlines usually set fares within this range,” he said. He also mentioned that airlines have been requested to offer fares that provide relief to passengers.

Manoj Karki, president of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, claimed that they are working to make travel easier for citizens during this crisis. “We have already held a meeting today to ensure that airlines do not charge the maximum fare. Currently, only tickets at lower rates are being sold,” he stated.

Anil Manandhar, the corporate manager of Shree Airlines, claimed that tickets are being offered at regular rates. “We are selling tickets based on seat availability and are not charging more than the government-set fare,” he said.

It has been reported that one-way airfare for the Kathmandu–Biratnagar route, which was previously priced at Rs 7,500, has now been increased to Rs 9,900.

Similarly, one-way fares for the Kathmandu–Dhangadhi route have been set as high as Rs 17,000.

At present, major routes leading to Kathmandu are blocked. Passengers have no alternative but to opt for air travel. Landslides in Jhapple Khola in Dhading have caused road blockages, affecting transportation to Kathmandu.

Additionally, the BP Highway, which connects Kathmandu to the Terai region, has been obstructed in areas like Roshikhola, where landslides have washed away roads, halting the movement of vehicles.

According to Sunil Babu Dhakal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, 64 sections of 41 highways across the country are currently blocked.