KATHMANDU, Sept 14: Domestic airlines companies have increased ticket fares by as much as Rs 5,400 targeting the passengers for the upcoming Dashain festival which is just three weeks away.
According to the ticket rates unveiled by domestic airline companies, a passenger bound for Kathmandu-Dhangadhi flight will have to pay airfare of Rs 13,300 during October 10-12, the peak time of the festival. At present, the ticket price is Rs 7,900 per flight along this route.
Reluctance to implement adjusted transport fares
Likewise, a Dashain traveler will have to pay an additional Rs 3,900 for Rajbiraj, Rs 3,700 for Bhadrapur, Rs 2,900 for Nepalgunj and Rs 2,200 for Biratnagar flights from Kathmandu. Similarly, the flights for Kathmandu-Surkhet will be costlier by Rs 4,500, Kathmandu-Bhairahawa by Rs 1,800, Kathmandu-Janakpur by Rs 600 and Kathmandu-Simara by Rs 470.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people leave the capital to their hometowns to celebrate Dashain. According to government records, more than 450,000 people left Kathmandu valley for their homes to celebrate the biggest festival of Hindus last year.
Domestic airline companies surge their ticket fares by exorbitant amount citing the huge demand mainly for one-way travel from Kathmandu to various destinations inside the country. The companies however claim that they have fixed the rate abiding by the government rule. “The individuals who book air tickets earlier however can get the tickets at relatively cheaper rates,” said an official of Buddha Air.
