Airlines believe because of the high airfare and relatively problem-free roads, they will not witness heavy rush of passengers and therefore, the number of additional flights is less likely to exceed the number last year. [break]
Operators said since the seat capacity for the destinations which see more pressure have already been increased, they may not be adding more flights for the festive season.
Prajwal Thapa, sales and marketing manager of Guna Airlines, said the company plans to resume services for the Janakpur sector in the festive season. “We will be operating daily flight on Kathmandu-Janakpur-Kathmandu route from September 18,” he said.
“Kathmandu-Biratnagar and Kathmandu-Bhairawa routes are almost sold out and the booking for Pokhara and Simra is positive,” he said. Guna Airlines is adding flight to the Biratnagar sector. “The booking status shows that we will have to add flights to Biratnagar and we will add flights to other sectors as well, depending on demand,” he said.
Yeti Airlines is planning to add up to seven flights during Dashain. The airline is also offering special fare of Rs 1,500 for Biratnagar-Kathmandu sector effective from Fulpati to Dashami. Vinaya Shakya, senior manager of Yeti Airlines, said although advance booking is overwhelming, we are waiting for the tickets to be sold out before unveiling additional flights for other sectors.
“The fare has become expensive and there is not much problem in the roadway this season,” he said hinting at the chances of booking cancellations. Nevertheless, he added that booking for most of the sectors was nearly 100 percent.
Buddha Air is adding flights to Biratnagar and Bhadrapur.
“With more flights we are offering additional 70 seats to Biratnagar,” Executive Manager of Buddha Air Rupesh Joshi said. He said the company will fix the number of additional flights after September 18. The airline is also offering cheap fare of Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 for Biratnagar and Bhadrapur respectively.
“Passengers flying from Biratnagar to Kathmandu and Bhadrapur-Kathmandu can get this fare from Ghatasthapana to Dashami,” Joshi added.
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