Vistara, SpiceJet and Jazeera to fly to Kathmandu

As the Visit Nepal Year 2020 is going to start soon, more international airliners are flying to Kathmandu to boost the tourist arrivals.
The Tourism Ministry has granted operating authorisation to three international airlines – including two from India – to operate flights to Kathmandu.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), India’s full-service airline Vistara and budget carrier SpiceJet applied for slots at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) after receiving the operating authorisation.
Likewise, Kuwaiti carrier Jazeera Airways has also applied for a slot at TIA. “All the three airlines will begin service from the third week of November,” the CAAN said, adding that Vistara has applied to operate daily flights on the Delhi-Kathmandu route while SpiceJet has applied for daily flights on the Delhi-Kathmandu and Mumbai-Kathmandu routes. “The Kathmandu-New Delhi route will see at least 10 flights per day from November.”
The additional flights on Kathmandu-New Delhi route may ignite fierce competition and benefit consumers. The route is also considered a lucrative sector as flight occupancy reaches more than 95 per cent during the peak season.
After India's Jet Airways suspended its Nepal flights in April, many carriers have been showing interest in the route. The suspension of services by Jet Airways resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in weekly flight capacity. Jet Airways used to fly thrice daily on the Delhi-Kathmandu sector, and twice daily on the Mumbai-Kathmandu sector.

Best Western moves into Nepal

Best Western will open its first hotel in Nepal in the first quarter of 2013.
The 60-room Monty’s will be a brand new mid-scale property in the heart of the capital city.
The hotel will be located on Thamel Road, an area of downtown Kathmandu, famous for its vast array of local restaurants and boutique shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs, as well as mountaineering outlets catering to the booming adventure travel market.
"Nepal’s travel industry is booming, and Best Western is proud to offer a brand new hotel catering to the growing number of tourists wanting to experience this breathtaking country,” said Best Western International’s vice president of international operations – Asia & the Middle East Glenn de Souza.
"We are confident that the Monty’s will be extremely popular both with our loyal guests and first-timers," he said, adding that travellers are increasingly demanding excellent service levels and convenience at reasonable prices, and Best Western is perfectly positioned to meet their needs.
Best Western International is one of the biggest hotel families in the world with more than 4,000 hotels in 100 countries and territories. "The hotel's features include free wi-fi, local calls and complimentary breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant," according to de Souza.
Nepal has witnessed a surge in tourist arrivals in recent years. In 2011, which was observed as ‘Visit Nepal Year’, more than 544,000 tourists entered the country through Tribhuwan International Airport –– 21 per cent more than in 2010.
The trend has continued in 2012, as between January to June, international tourist arrivals to Nepal by air have risen by 19.8 per cent — as compared to the same period of the last year — to 294,019 in aggregate.
With an increasing number of flight connections to Kathmandu, including the launch of new low-cost services by flydubai, Air Arabia, SpiceJet and IndiGo in recent years, demand for the enticing destination looks set to grow more but the total number of hotel rooms — both five-star and three-star — seems to be insufficient for the rising number of tourists.

IndiGo starts Kathmandu flight from today

The healthy growth of Indian tourists to Nepal has attracted more Indian airlines to Nepal.
With seven flights daily, IndiGo Airlines has started New-Delhi-Kathmandu flight from Friday making it the sixth Indian private airliner to fly to Kathmandu.Speaking on the inaugural flight, Aditya Ghosh, president IndiGo said that Kathmandu is a key market and holds a lot of promise. “IndiGo will continue to keep its promise of providing low fares on the New Delhi-Kathmandu-New Delhi routes as well," he said, adding that the airlines hopes to provide the much needed avenue for countless Indians to explore wider horizons and at the same time open up the doors to more and more overseas travellers to experience India.
Currently, Air India, Jet Airlines, Jet lite, Spice Jet, Kingfisher and Indigo fly on New-Delhi-Kathmandu route with a total of 78 flights a week.
"Private Indian airlines have explored Nepal as new destination,” said director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Ram Prasad Neupane.
"The increase in the number of Indian airlines flying to Kathmandu has also encouraged the sector," he added.
According to him, India and China has large market access and they have strong economy. "Increase in the number of airlines from these countries can bring a large number of quality tourist to Nepal," he said, adding that the movement of Indian tourist has always been in an increasing trend.
"In an average, Indian tourists contribute to 30 per cent of the total international tourist arrival through airways,” said Neupane.
"According to Air Service Agreement (ASA) between Nepal and India, different Indian airlines can have 30,000 flights a week,” according to joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation Ranjan Krishna Aryal.
Therefore, more private Indian airlines can start their flights to Kathmandu with the recommendation of Indian government and technical specifications to Nepal, he added.
Including six Indian airlines and two Nepali airlines — Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and Buddha Air — some 28 different international airlines fly to Nepal like Air Arabia, Arke Fly, Baharain, Biman Bangladesh, China Eastern, China Southern, Dragon Air, Fly Dubai, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Qatar Airways, Druk Air, Silk Air, Thai International Airways, United Airways and GMG Airlines.

The frequency
Airlines — Destinations — No of flights in a week
Air India — Delhi — 14
Air India — Kolkata — 4
Air India — Mumbai — 4
Jet Airways — Delhi — 14
Jet Airways — Mumbai — 7
Jet lite — Delhi — 7
Kingfisher — Delhi — 7
Spice Jet — Delhi — 14
Indigo — Delhi — 7
Total flights — 78
(Source: Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal)

SpiceJet to fly to Kathmandu from October 7

NAC flight on Kathmandu-New Delhi route after September 15

SpiceJet Ltd -- a private Indian budget carrier -- is starting flights on New Delhi-Kathmandu route from October 7.

"It will be the first Indian budget carrier to fly internationally,"said Zenith Travels, the General Sales Agent (GSA) of the airlines that is planning to fly on Kathmandu-New Delhi route at Rs 1,499 Indian Currency (IC).

"There will be six return flights a week on the New Delhi-Kathmandu route," the airlines said, adding that quality service with budget price SpiceJet will make an impressive contribution to makeNepal Tourism Year 2011 a grand success.

The Indian budget carrier is also planning to start flights from Chennai to Colombo (Sri Lanka) from October 9. "The Chennai-Colombo route will be Rs 999 IC," informed the carrier that will fly 189-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft on these routes.

The airline is planning to price its tickets 10 to 15 per cent lower than other carriers on its overseas routes.

Meanwhile, the national flag carrier is planning to restart flight on Kathmandu-New Delhi route after September 15. "It might start flying after September 15," said a source at the Nepal AirlinesCorporation (NAC).

The NAC aircraft has been grounded due to its faulty gear since last month leading to suspension of flights on Kathmandu-New Delhi route.

The national flag carrier has two age-old 180-seater Boeings that are flying on Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Qatar, Hong Kong, Bangkok and New Delhi routes.