Air passenger traffic down 7.76 percent

Domestic air passenger movements dropped 7.76 percent in the first three months of 2014.

Fourteen domestic airlines, including helicopters, flew 332,853 passengers in the first quarter, or the airlines received 28,017 less travellers compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) statistics.

The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) said less tourist occupancy by the start of this year could have resulted to the fall in passenger movement. “Among other factors affecting occupancy, seasonality is the most important,” said AOAN’s Spokesperson Ghanashyam Acharya, adding in the winter months of December and January, airlines were forced to cancel a large number of flights due to inclement weather.

The TIA stats show there were 90,875 flyers in 4,116 flights in January and the occupancy gradually increased to 104,703 in 4,367 flights in February. The flight movement jumped to 6,212 in March with a total 137,275 passengers.

A rise in airfares is also expected to take its toll on passenger traffic , and the downturn is expected to continue in the coming months, according to aviation analysts.

Meanwhile, aircraft movements in the first quarter dropped 3.82 percent to 14,695 year-on-year. The TIA stats show there were 164 landings and take-offs daily at TIA on an average.

Buddha Air topped the passenger carriage list. However, its passenger occupancy dropped 14.52 percent to 182,273, or the carrier received 30,962 less passengers, in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year. Buddha commands 54.76 percent share in the domestic market.  

The first quarter was good for Yeti Airlines and helicopter service providers. Yeti Airlines saw it passenger occupancy grow by 3.46 percent to 103,505.  However, Yeti’s subsidiary Tara Air saw its passenger occupancy drop 12.31 percent to 16,601 over the period.

Simrik Airlines received 19,822 travellers. Nepal Airlines and Sita Air recorded hefty losses in their passenger carriage.

The national flag carrier Nepal Airlines, which is down to one aircraft in the domestic sector, suffered a notable 40.07 percent drop in passenger carriage. It flew 4,981 travellers in the first quarter. Until April, Nepal Airlines was left with one Twin Otter after its two aircraft crashed within less than a year.

Sita Air was the biggest loser, as its passenger numbers dropped 53.63 percent to just 535. The carrier has been operating a lone Dornier since September 2012 after one of the two crashed on the banks of the Manohara River in Bhaktapur, killing all 19 on board.

Air passenger movements (Jan-March)

Airline    2013    2014    Change (in %)

Buddha Air    213,235    182,273    -14.52

Yeti Airlines    100,038    103,505    3.46

Simrik Airlines    --    19,822    --

Tara Air    18,932    16,601    -12.31

Nepal Airlines    8,312    4,981    -40.07

Sita Air    1,154    535    -53.63

(Source : TIA)

NEWS SOURCE: The kathmandu post,25 july 2014