Travellers forced to fly due to road blockade

Nepalgunj: Travellers in west Nepal are taking to the air as overland transport has been shut down by bandas. And with agitators closing down Geta Airport in Dhangadhi, potential air travellers have converged on Nepalgunj.

The western region has been shut down by agitators demanding an undivided Far West state. In the last few days, the banda has spread to the Mid-West. Despite a surge in demand for tickets, airlines have not increased their frequency, and travellers have had to wait for a week to get a seat on a flight.

Travel agencies said that people have been booking tickets a week in advance. Travellers who used to confirm their tickets only a day before the flight are now doing so a week before the flight. The rush for air tickets has pushed up prices.

Champa Thakulla, a weightlifter from Mahendranagar, said she was forced to pay more for a ticket as she had to sit for an examination of the Public Service Commission in Kathmandu. “Due to the road blockade, I had to make a detour through India to get here,” said Thakulla who was scheduled to fly to Kathmandu on Tuesday. The disruption in surface transport has forced people in the Far West to cross over into India to travel anywhere. Bhoj Raj Shahi, manager at Oshonic Tours and Travels, said there was more pressure on the Nepalgunj-Kathmandu flight. “Many people now prefer going out than coming in,” said Shahi.

Apart from private airlines, state-owned Nepal Airlines has also been failing to provide regular service in the region. As a result, travellers have to buy more expensive tickets from private airlines.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has confirmed increased passenger pressure due to the ongoing protests. Buddha Air, which has been conducting twice daily flights with 72-seater ATR on the Nepalgunj-Kathmandu sector has been inundated with reservations.

“All the tickets up to the next week have been booked,” said Jay Bahadur Bohra, an official at Buddha Air.

Yeti Airlines flies twice daily on the Nepalgunj-Kathmandu sector with 41-seater Jetstream aircraft. Bhim Rai, station manager at Yeti Airlines, said passengers have to wait for two-three days to get a ticket on their flights.

source:The Kathmandu Post,16 May 2012