Airlines to raise airfare

Following the government´s decision to raise the price of petroleum products, private airline operators of the country have announced that they will hike the airfare effective from Monday.

The government on Friday had increased the price of Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) by Rs 6 per liter to Rs 143.

"We have been compelled to increase the airfare as Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) hiked ATF price. The new rate will be implemented from Monday onward," said Ghana Shyam Aacharya, spokesperson of Airline Operators´ Association of Nepal.

According to him, the airfare will be increased by Rs 65 in the shortest route and by Rs 235 in the longest route.

As per the new rate, a passenger will have to pay Rs 3,145 for Kathmandu-Simara flight, which is the shortest route, and a whopping Rs 11,215 for Kathmandu-Dhangadi flight - the longest route.

Likewise, the new airfares from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Bhairawa and Biratnagar stand at Rs 4,970, Rs 6,085 and Rs 6,835 respectively. Likewise, airfare for Bhadrapur and Janakpur will be Rs 7,765 and Rs 4,250, respectively.

"Though we have increased the rates, we might revise them if the government withdraws its decision," Prajwal Thapa, marketing manager of Simrik Airlines said.

source: republica,15  March 2014