Himalayan News Service

Nepalgunj, March 5:

People travelling to remote districts of the mid-western and far-western regions from the Ranjha Airport, Nepalgunj, are heaving a sigh of relief after the RNAC added a plane to increase flights to those districts. According to Ganesh Man Barun, the regional RNAC chief, the additional plane, operational from the first week of February, had improved the situation.

Earlier the RNAC was flying three planes to the remote districts. The travellers bound for the districts of Karnali zone and hilly districts of the far-west region have expressed their delight as the RNAC flights were adhering to the schedule. A Dolpa-bound passenger, Bal Ram Shrestha, said, “In the past, despite getting tickets, we had to wait for months to fly but now we can reach the destination within days.”

Ram Prasad Devkota, a local of Jumla, said the government’ direction to reduce the pressure had eased their travel. Recalling the past, he said, “We had to wait for months just to get tickets and more for planes to land in the district but it is better now.” Barun said it would be easy to improve the service if there were enough planes. “It would be much easier for the people if we could operate flights throughout the week.” He informed the RNAC planes were flying five times a week from Nepalgunj. While the planes take off for Simikot, Dolpa, Jumla and Rukum thrice a week, they take off for Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Sanfebagar of Achham twice a week. The planes fly in the Nepalgunj-Kathmandu routes five days a week.