Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Airliners reduce fare

Domestic airlines are marginally reducing the airfare to different destinations effective from tomorrow.
The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (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 from Monday reduced the price of ATF by Rs 4 per litre to Rs 82 per litre for domestic airline companies.
"Along with reduction in fuel surcharge, domestic airlines will reduce airfares to different destinations from tomorrow," said AOAN spokesperson Ghanashyam Acharya. "The price will come down from Rs 40 to Rs 181 depending on distance."
Though, the AOAN revises fuel surcharge when price of ATF fluctuates by at least Rs 4 per litre, the new airfare can vary depending on the respective airline companies.
According to AOAN, the new airfare to Dhangadi – the furthest destination from Kathmandu – will come down to around Rs 12,019 – including a Rs 3,620 fuel surcharge and a Rs 200 airport tax – from Rs 12,200 from tomorrow with the implementation of new fuel surcharge rate. Likewise, air travel to Simara – the shortest destination from Kathmandu that takes 15 minutes – will be lowered to around Rs 3,005 from Rs 3,045. "The fuel surcharge has been slashed by Rs 40 to Rs 735, according to AOAN.
The mountain flight is also expected to cost Rs 10,862 from tomorrow as against the current rate of Rs 11,000.
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.
The NOC had been selling aviation fuel at rates much higher than market prices. Airlines have been passing the burden of fuel price on to travellers in the form of fuel surcharge, taking airfares beyond the reach of people.
Airlines currently have over 90 per cent occupancy rate due to poor highway road conditions, particularly the Mugling-Narayangadh highway section.
The people have been resorting to air transport service to travel inside the country. After witnessing a constant fall in passenger numbers in the last four years, the domestic aviation sector rebounded strongly in 2016, recording an all-time high air traveller movement.
According to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the domestic air passenger movement jumped by 28.85 per cent to 1.75 million, as travellers chose to fly rather than drive over ‘bone-jarring’ national highways.
According to deputy at the Air Transport Division of CAAN Subhash Jha, lower fuel surcharge will provide some relief to travelers.
Domestic carriers received 393,548 more flyers last year.  The figure includes 27,893 passengers flown by nine domestic helicopter companies. The passenger movement was on a constant decline since 2012, marking a departure from the robust growth rates seen since 2008 when airlines were flying high due to competitive airfares, constant protests and road blockades, forcing travellers to take it to the air. At that time, rise in NGO/INGO staff movement during the peace process and a real estate boom also helped airlines to do a brisk business.
Airlines saw a heady growth of 13 per cent in passenger movement in 2008. The growth rate jumped to 33 per cent in 2009, as fares were cut amid stiff competition. Although passenger movement increased 12.83 per cent in 2010, the growth rate started dropping in 2011 and recorded negative growth from 2012 to 2015.
The trend reversed in 2016. Nepali skies saw 73,876 flights during that year, up by 12.16 per cent than in 2015.

No comments: