People of Karnali and other remote districts had been protesting the airfare hike and obstructing air services since last three weeks after the airlines operators increased the fare up to 30 percent.[break]
Speaking at a press conference in the capital on Saturday, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma said, “All the stakeholders, including private airlines operators, have agreed to switch back to the old airfare,” he said. Minister Bishwokarma further added that the ministry is preparing to bring a new set of policies for the management of airlines.
The government, however, is yet to come with a complete work plan on other issues like subsidy. The meeting, held at the ministry on Friday, among government officials, members of airlines operators association of Nepal (AOAN) and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), formed a high level committee to solve the fare issues in the sector. Ministry officials, members of AOAN and NAC, along with the lawmakers from Karnali, are members of the newly formed committee.
Joint-secretary of MoTCA Ranjan Krishna Aryal, who will head the committee, said that government will be committed to give continuity to the decision. “We are hopeful that private sector will consider it a responsibility,” he added. The committee will prepare a report and try to resolve the problem within 15 days.
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