KATHMANDU, Oct 8: The government has barred the airline companies from raising the ticket fares during Dashain, the biggest festival for the Hindus, starting Sunday.
Showing concern over the growing complaints about the hike in airfare during the festivals, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) directed the flight operators not to increase the ticket rates. Issuing a press statement on Thursday, the CAAN has said it held a meeting with the representatives and office bearers of the airline companies in this regard.
According to the CAAN, the airline companies agreed to implement the ticket rates accorded on December 12, 2016, in which the companies agreed to sell their tickets at the rates lower than the government approved flight rates during the festivals. On the date, minimum and maximum fare rates for domestic air services were determined through a ministerial-level decision.
The CAAN came to action following the intervention of the Prime Minister Balen Shah over the issue. Under the agreement, airlines are required to publish information regarding these discounted fares through their official sales and distribution platforms.
Reluctance to implement adjusted transport fares
Previously, the airline companies set a one-way ticket from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi as high as Rs 22,180, while the CAAN fixed rate on the route at Rs 21,600 at maximum. On normal days, passengers could obtain tickets for around Rs 10,800. Airlines have been showing the pretext of ticket shortage with rising demand behind the surge in airfares.
The airfare for the Kathmandu-Dhangadhi trip is even higher than the flight costs to a number of Indian cities. While a Kathmandu–Delhi ticket is available for around Rs 12,511 and that of Banaras costs only around Rs 17,000.
These steep domestic fares are raising serious questions about airfare pricing and the burden being placed on travelers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. General public and consumer right activists have been blaming the airlines for taking undue advantage of the situation.
Expressing the dissatisfaction of excessive hike in airfares, a number of social media users wrote their complaints against domestic airline companies. “Rather than going directly to Dhangadhi from Kathmandu, I prefer to choose Kathmandu-Delhi by air and come back on a bus to Dhangadhi. Travel costs along this route will be much cheaper to me,” writes Rakesh Pariyar in an irony.
Meanwhile, Buddha Air has urged passengers not to be misled by deceptive screenshots and content regarding airfares—created using Photoshop and AI—that have been circulating on social media and certain online news outlets.
In a press release, Buddha Air clarified that, in light of the disaster situation, it has been offering one-way flights to Dhangadhi at a fare of Rs 10,800.
The company stated that, due to the availability of tickets at this minimum rate, most flights are already fully booked.
Noting the prolonged disruption of road transport caused by extensive damage to highways from floods and landslides, Buddha Air stated that it had announced and implemented a plan to provide convenient and affordable air services—including charter flights and scheduled services at minimum fares—to destinations where road travel is difficult.
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