Domestic airline operators to marginally cut fares from today

Kathmandu, July 4

Domestic airlines are set to marginally reduce the airfare to different destinations following the decision of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) to cut fuel surcharge effective from Wednesday.

The AOAN meeting today decided to slash fuel surcharge rate following the recent reduction in the price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) had reduced the price of ATF by four rupees per litre to Rs 82 per litre for domestic airline companies effective from Monday.

“Along with reduction in fuel surcharge, domestic airlines will reduce airfares to different destinations from Wednesday,” said AOAN Spokesperson Ghanashyam Acharya.

The new airfare, however, can vary depending on the respective airline companies.

AOAN revises fuel surcharge when price of ATF fluctuates by at least four rupees per litre.

According to AOAN officials, the new airfare to Dhangadi — the furthest destination from Kathmandu — will come down to around Rs 12,019 from Rs 12,200 from Wednesday with the implementation of new fuel surcharge rate. Air travel to Simara — the shortest destination from Kathmandu — will be lowered to roughly Rs 3,005 from Rs 3,045.

Similarly, mountain flight is expected to cost Rs 10,862 from Wednesday as against the previous rate of Rs 11,000.

“The new airfares will give slight relief to air travellers,” added Acharya.

AOAN has reduced the fuel surcharge in a range of Rs 38 to Rs 181, depending on the destination. While fuel surcharge for mountain flight from Kathmandu has been reduced by Rs 138 to Rs 2,815, the fuel surcharge for Kathmandu-Dhangadi air travel has been brought down by Rs 181 to Rs 3,620.

The fuel surcharges for Kathmandu-Nepalgunj and Kathmandu-Tumlingtar routes have been reduced by Rs 135 and Rs 77, respectively. Likewise, fuel surcharges for Kathmandu-Bharatpur and Kathmandu-Pokhara routes have been slashed by Rs 47 and Rs 66.