International airlines felicitate NAC for better ground handling

International airlines felicitated Nepal Airlines for its efficient ground handling at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA).

Some 10 international airlines today awarded the ailing national flag carrier for its better ground handling at the only international airport.

The second annual general meeting of the Airlines Operators' Committee, Nepal, has facilitated the Nepal Airlines that has been remaining afloat only due to ground handling as it has no aircraft to expand its routes and increase flight frequency.

Qatar Air, China Southers, Etihad, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Oman Air, Air Arabia, Dragon Air, Thai Airways and Korean Air have recognised the NAC for its service.

Gulf Air to stop flying Kathmandu from March 25

Gulf Air will stop flying to Kathmandu from March 25.
"From January 11, Gulf Air — in the first phase — will reduce its flights to Kathmandu to five from the current 14 flights a week," according to operation director of President Travels — General Sales Agent (GSA) of Gulf Air — Siddhartha Thapa. "From March 25, Gulf Air will stop flying to Kathmandu completely," he added.
Gulf Air — the principal flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain — until two years back, used to fly the highest number of passengers to and from Kathmandu.
Some more international airlines — especially from the Middle East — are planning to reduce their flights to Kathmandu citing losses due to high ground handling charges and lack of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) that has made their operation cost expensive.
According to a CAAN report, Nepal has signed Air Service Agreements (ASA) with 36 countries generating more than 5.76 million seats from different international airlines annually to and from Nepal. "But international airlines operating to Nepal are using only 44.7 per cent of the total permitted capacity," the report said.
Earlier, foreign airlines operating flights to Nepal had requested the government to waive the VAT imposed on ground handling services at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA). According to the Board of Airlines Representatives in Nepal, other countries do not impose levy on ground handling services making Kathmandu an expensive destination to fly.
Apart from lowering ground handling charges, the government must enter into DTAA with middle-eastern countries, as middle-eastern hubs are well served from Kathmandu, according to international airlines flying to Kathmandu.
Flights to Bahrain are operated by Bahrain Air and Gulf Air, whereas Doha is served by Qatar Airways, Abu Dhabi by Etihad, and Sharjah by Air Arabia.
The reduction of flights of Gulf Air will not only hit tourist arrivals but also hurt revenue.

International airlines offer special fares for Hajj passengers

International airlines have started competing for Muslim passengers going for Hajj to Mecca.

Qatar Airways, which operates four flights from Kathmandu to Doha, and two flights a day from Doha to Jeddah is offering a special fare for the pilgrimage, whereas Air Arabia has been declared the official carrier for Muslim Hajj pilgrims by the Hajj committee of the government.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced Air Arabia as the official carrier for Muslim Hajj pilgrims," the airlines said, adding that Air Arabia had proposed a round trip fare of $ 870 and became the official airlines.

The flight on the Kathmandu-Sharjah-Jeddah route will have a transit of three to four hours in Sharjah and Air Arabia will provide food and lodging facilities for Hajj travelers, it said.

"Hajj pilgrims can depart from Kathmandu from October 7 to October 14, and return to Kathmandu within 45 days of departure," Air Arabia said, hoping to provide a comfortable and memorable flight experience to Muslim Hajj travellers going to Mecca.

Similarly, Qatar Airways is offering a special fare of Rs 82,000, including all the taxes and surcharges for passengers travelling from Nepal to Saudi Arabia — to perform this year's Hajj pilgrimage — and back.

"The offer is valid for travel from Kathmandu between October 7 and October 13, and pilgrims must return between November 17 and November 27, Qatar Airways added.

Nearly 1,000 Nepali Muslims perform the pilgrimage every year, and Qatar Airways carried 858 pilgrims last year providing excellent five-star rated service including extra baggage allowance to carry food and holy water, known as Zam Zam water, on the way back, the airlines said, adding that the offer is valid only till the end of August and tickets need to be purchased before August 31.

Hajj is a pilgrimage taken by Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia and it occurs from the eighth to 12th day of Dul-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of Ramdan.

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)