KATHMANDU, APRIL 27
The government has decided to allow the domestic flights to continue even during the prohibitory order.
The Cabinet meeting held today has decided to allow domestic flights to continue by following health safety protocols.
Even the Monday's Cabinet meeting had decided not to suspend both domestic and international flights, although it had been said that a final decision would be taken following discussion with the airline operators.
As the airline operators emphasised that air travel is relatively safe, the government today decided to continue the flights.
As per the Airline Operators' Association of Nepal (AOAN), all the airline companies have been providing services following the health safety protocols.
It has been agreed to facilitate the movement of passengers to and from the airport at the initiative of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). Passengers carrying tickets and ID cards will be allowed to travel to the airport.
As per the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), modalities are being prepared to operate domestic flights during the prohibitory order.
Amid this, the domestic airline companies have added flight schedules as the government has announced lockdown from Thursday and has given two days' time for people to travel out of the valley.
Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines issued notices on Monday informing its passengers that they are adding flight schedules to all destinations aiming to facilitate passengers wanting to travel back to their hometowns.
As the number of domestic passengers has increased, the air ticket price has also gone up. The airline companies are charging maximum airfare during these days.
Ticket price from Kathmandu to Pokhara has reached Rs 4,875 per person.
Similarly, ticket price for Dhangadhi is Rs 11,700, for Biratnagar is Rs 5,000, for Bhairahawa is Rs 4,000 while ticket price from Kathmandu to Bharatpur is Rs 2,870.
Meanwhile, Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs has stated that if the government is allowing the domestic flights to operate, the public vehicle owners will not accept a ban on public vehicles during this critical period.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 28, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
