Kathmandu, September 13

Domestic airline operators have said that they will ensure easy availability of air tickets during the Dashain festival this year.

As the festive season is nearing, domestic airline companies have started taking booking of tickets. Every year, passengers face problems in availing tickets during the festive season and have to usually book their tickets one month in advance. However, this year passengers will not face any such difficulty during the festive season, claimed Bhim Raj Rai, media spokesperson for Yeti Airlines.

According to Rai, airline companies are expanding their flight capacity, hence in this festive season passengers will not have to worry about flights and tickets. “In recent years, airline companies have enhanced their capacity. Most of them have 72-seater ATR aircraft and some others are planning to expand their fleet,” he said. “This has increased the capacity of airline operators to carry more number of passengers at once.”

Therefore, this year passengers will have comfortable flights during the festival season, he added. Rai further informed that there is not much rush this year for advanced booking of tickets.  “We are receiving normal ticket booking for Dashain. Based on the demand and supply, the airfare has also been revised,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anil Manandhar, marketing manager of Shree Airlines, said that they are receiving bookings as in normal days. Hence, this festive season is not going to be so hectic. “Gradually the number of bookings for Dashain is increasing and it will gather momentum from Fulpati (seventh day of Dashain),” he said. “People who are in a hurry or those who want to avoid the hectic travel through land route usually decide to fly.”

Buddha Air has said that almost all the bookings for Dashain are packed. As the online payment has made it easier for passengers to book their tickets, the advance booking this year gathered pace one month before Dashain.

Meanwhile, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is still to open its booking for Dashain festival. According to NAC, the booking for Dashain for domestic destinations will begin 15 days before the festive season begins. Prior to this, NAC used to open advance booking one week before Dashain.