Friday, October 4, 2019

Airlines add flights to ease festive commute

Domestic airline companies have increased flights to facilitate festive commuters.
According to Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), the airline companies have increased flights to destinations where the flow is comparatively higher. “Airline companies have increased the number of flights to various destinations as per the demand of the public,” AOAN spokesperson Yog Raj Kandel said, adding that the passengers have been complaining that they are facing hassles in obtaining air tickets, thus additional flights will ensure availability of air tickets during Dashain festival. “The airline companies have increased up to 50 per cent flights to various destinations depending on the flow of passengers.”
The flow of air passengers during Dashain has gone up significantly in recent years forcing the airline companies to add flight frequency also due to bad road conditions. This year too, the airline companies are ready to further add more flights in Dashain, if required, he said.
However, the passenger occupancy in flights from Kathmandu to various destinations is almost 100 per centbut occupancy in the flights to Kathmandu is less than 20 per cent due to out flow of people from Kathmandu to their respective home districts. It is expected that almost 2.5 million people will leave Kathmandu during Dashain festival. According to the Traffic Police, almost 1.5 million people have already left the valley till today.
Likewise, transport entrepreneurs have also added vehicles on routes where the flow of passengers is higher.
According to general secretary at the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Saroj Sitaula, they have added the buses on long and short routes to cater to the urgency of the passengers to reach home for festival. The Department of Transport Management has also opened all land routes for all public vehicles across the country.

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