POKHARA, Nov 6:  The number of air passengers has increased significantly in recent times due to the increasingly difficult road travel, the tourist season and the increasing habit of traveling among domestic guests. According to the Pokhara airport, more than 3,800 passengers received air services from the airport in one day. This is the highest number of passengers flying to and from the Pokhara Airport. 

According to information officer of the airport, Devraj Subedi, 3,850 passengers left the airport on a single day in the third week of October. Subedi said that before the coronavirus infection started, 3,400 passengers traveled from Pokhara in one day. A total of 89,907 passengers traveled through Pokhara Airport last October. The number was 84,499 in October 2019 before the corona infection started.

Along with the increase in the number of passengers, the number of flights at Pokhara Airport has also increased significantly. On the busiest day (October 20) there were 212 (two-way) flights in a single day. The flight of small size ultralight aircraft from Pokhara airport has also increased now. Ultralights carry only one passenger. Similarly, helicopter flights from here have also increased. Helicopters are now being used for flights to various mountain areas such as Annapurna base camp, Mountain Mardi, Muktinath and other areas.

Subedi said that even with the addition of flights from Pokhara to other cities, the number of passengers has increased. At present, there are regular flights from Pokhara to Chitwan's Bharatpur, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. There are also flights from Pokhara to Simara and Janakpur. Apart from that, there are also flights from Pokhara to Jomsom in Mustang.

Similarly, tourism entrepreneurs also say that the increase in the number of air passengers is the main factor in increasing the culture of tourism among domestic guests. Pom Narayan Shrestha, chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC) said, "The number of domestic guests has also increased in recent times. This is also the reason for the increase in air passengers.”

According to him, another main reason for the increase in air passengers is the difficult road travel. He said that even though it takes at least 12 hours to travel Pokhara-Kathmandu (200 km), passengers have started choosing airplanes. “Road expansion is necessary. The roadways should be given an alternative and organized travel should be made. If alternative arrangements were made along with road expansion, this would not have been a hassle," he said.

 
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