Airlines offer 10 per cent festive discount

Domestic carriers affiliated to Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) offered a discount of 10 per cent on base fare targeting the festive season.
Issuing a press note today, the AOAN has announced 10 per cent discount on airfare during the festive season – Dashain, Tihar and Chhath – from September 29 to November 3. The AOAN has brought the discount offer to provide some relief to passengers, according to the association. “However, the discount is not applicable to airport tax and fuel surcharge amount as the base fare does not include fuel surcharge and airport tax.”
The passengers have to purchase their tickets from the ticket counters of the concerned airline companies to get the discount offer, the press note reads, adding that the discount is not available for tickets purchased from general sales agents (GSA) of the airlines. “The discount will be provided to Nepali passengers only and not the foreign passengers.”
The discount offer is offered by the member airline companies of AOAN including Buddha Air, Saurya Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Air, Yeti Airlines, Simrik Airlines and Tara Air. The association has 15 member airlines. Ten of them are helicopter operators.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation is, however, preparing to provide 50 per cent discount on airfare for passengers above 70 years.
The airline operators also confirmed that passengers will not face shortage of air tickets as most of the airlines have expanded their fleet this year. Likewise, the AOAN has also said that chopper operators will be available for search and rescue flights even during the festival season.

Himalaya Airlines announces direct flight to Dhaka

Himalaya Airlines has announced the direct flights on Kathmandu-Dhaka-Kathmandu route from July 22. The airline will operate its A320–214 narrow bodied aircraft on the route, configured with 150 Economy Class and 8 Premium Economy Class seats, it said, adding that the airline has a fleet of three new Airbus 320-200. “The new flight schedule offers expedient travel options for leisure and business travelers.”
Bangladesh being a major volume market for Nepali tourism, the inbound connectivity shall focus predominantly on getting Bangladeshi tourists on board, the airlines informed. “With the airlines’ regular flights to Middle East destinations like Doha, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, and Dammam, the new sector shall also significantly project Kathmandu as a transit hub for Bangladeshi passengers.”
“We take pleasure to announce our connectivity to another Asian Destination, Dhaka in Bangladesh shouldering our role in contributing to the promotion of tourism and business amongst neighboring countries,” said vice president–administration Vijay Shrestha.
“This connectivity will boost new business opportunities between Nepal and Bangladesh and shall also serve as a bridge between the Middle East Countries and Bangladesh,” he said, adding that Himalaya Airlines shall be committed to continuing excellent service flavored with Nepali hospitality to its valued passengers. “The thrice weekly schedule have convenient timings, where flight H9 678 departs from Kathmandu at 11:10 hours (local time), and lands at 13:10 hours (local time) in Dhaka. The return flight H9 679 departs from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 14:10 hours (local time) the same day and arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 15:20 hours.”
The Free Baggage Allowance for both the routes is 25 kg for Premium Economy Class and 20 kg for Economy Class, he added. “The airline aims at ensuring on-time flight performance.”
The airline has appointed SAir Air BD Ltd as its General Sales Agents (GSA), who will represent the airline in Bangladesh and will be responsible for the airline’s sales and marketing, market development, reservations and ticketing services.
Established in August 2014, Himalaya Airlines – a Nepal-China joint venture provides international air services to five destinations including Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur, apart from Dhaka as the sixth one.

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.

Tara Air starts Bhojpur flight

Tara Air aircraft landed at Bhojpur airport today on its first scheduled flight making it a 16th destination.
"Tara Air will fly on Kathmandu-Bhojpur-Kathmandu route once a week every Monday," said deputy director of Tara Air Saral Shumsher Rana.
The domestic carrier has fixed Rs 4,995 (including fuel surcharge) for one-way fare for the 45-minute flight to Bhojpur from Kathmandu. "It will cost $132 in US dollar for one way fare," according to the airlines.
"Situated at an altitude of 3,962 feet, Bhojpur airstrip has 165-meter runway, the airlines said, adding that it has successfully landed its commercial flight at the Bhojpur airport at 9.20 today morning.
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has also been flying on the route.
Tara Air has appointed Lalupate Travel as its General Sales Agent (GSA) for the route. "We are hopeful that the operation will help people of eastern region travel and easily transport food and construction materials," Rana said.
Tara Air flies to Lukla, Phaplu, Lamidanda, Tumlingtar and Ramechhap from Kathmandu; Jomsom and Manang from Pokhara; Dolpa, Jumla, Bajura, Simikot and Rara from Nepalgunj and Surkhet, currently.

Air Arabia to fly on schedule

The low-cost United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Air Arabia is scheduled to fly from December 16, though a Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) employees union has threatened to gherau the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), if it starts its flight.
"We are not asking any prevelage to operate Air Arabia on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route," said Rabi Chandra Singh, director of the airliners's GSA City Express International Travel and Tours for Air Arabia in Nepal.
"We are exercising the Fifth Freedom Right that is according to the Air Service Agreement (ASA) between Nepal and the UAE," he said, adding that Nepal Airlines Coporation (NAC) is also currently enjoying the right.
"The scheduled Air Arabia flight will also not hurt the national flag carrier," he said, adding that even if Air Arabia -- with its six flights a week -- and NAC -- with its six flights a week -- both continue flying on the route, it could only cater to a quarter of the total passenger flying on the route.
"There is enough room for NAC to add its flight on the route -- as both the airlines could fly only 26 per cent of the total passenger -- when it acquires its aircraft."
Malaysia is the number one destination for the Nepali migrant workers. According to the Labour Department, in the first nine months of 2010, Malaysian embassy has issued 1,17,000 visas. Nepali migrant workers have been flying to Kuala Lumpur via Dhaka and New Delhi paying more air fare due to lack of enough flights on the route.
The International Relations and Human Rights Committee has instructed the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) yesterday not to allow Air Arabia operate flight on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route saying that the decision will not only bleed the national flag carrier but also is against the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act-2019.
But according to the Act, the ministry needs to take advise -- not consent -- from national flag carrier before giving fifth freedom right to foreign airliners but can decide on its own. However, the NAC officials have been claiming that the ministry needs its consent to allow fifth freedom right.
The government has permitted Air Arabia to operate six flights a week on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route under the revised ASA between the UAE and Nepal in 2007. The fifth freedom rights allows an airline to carry passenger from one’s own country to a second country and from that country to a third country.

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.

Kingfisher starts Delhi-Kathmandu flight

Kingfisher Airlines -- India's only Five Star Airline rated by Skytrax -- today announced the launch of daily flights from Kathmandu to New Delhi. The launch of this new route marks the first time that Kingfisher Airlines is commencing operations from Kathmandu.

In addition to this new route, Kingfisher Airlines also launched two other new international routes with the commencement of flights from New Delhi to Dubai and Mumbai to Dubai.

The flights on all these routes are being operated with Kingfisher Airlines' modern fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft. The flights on the Kathmandu - New Delhi route will feature Kingfisher Class, the premium economy service from Kingfisher Airlines.

The award-winning Kingfisher experience includes roomy seats with a wide seat pitch and ample leg room, in-flight entertainment, delectable cuisine, specially trained international cabin crew and a host of on-board comforts.

"I am delighted to announce the launch of Kingfisher Airlines' maiden flight between Kathmandu and New Delhi," said commenting on the launch of these new international routes, Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. "Kingfisher Airlines has redefined the whole experience of flying and with the launch of this new service, discerning flyers on this popular route popular will now have the choice of traveling with India's favourite airline."

Kingfisher Airlines has the largest network in India and flies to many cities that are served exclusively by Kingfisher Airlines. Guests flying in from Kathmandu to New Delhi will get easy and convenient connections to Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

The New Delhi-Kathmandu flight offers excellent connectivity with Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Leh and London amongst other cities. Kingfisher Airlines' guests will now be able to fly in from these cities and easily connect with the New Delhi-Kathmandu flight.

Air India, Jet Airlines, and Jet Lite are already flying on Kathmandu-Delhi-Kathmandu flights. Kingfisher Airlines will be another Indian airlines flying on the route.

At present, there are 42 daily flights from Delhi to Kathmandu while total the number of flights from Mumbai is seven.

Meanwhile, more international airlines are planning to fly to Kathmandu.

Malaysian Airlines has got permission for operation but its schedule has yet to be made public. Similarly, Oman Air has scheduled to fly to Kathmandu from June 17, according to CAAN.

Oman Air has also appointed its General Sales Agents in three of its soon-to-be-launched-destinations -- Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Dar Es Salam in Tanzania, and Kathmandu in Nepal. It will be flying to Kathmandu from the June 17. Oman Air has appointed Amravati Travels as its GSA.

Abdulrazaq Alraisi, general manager, Worldwide Sales said that the airlines is very happy with the appointment of these premier and premium organisations as its GSA. The Board and the management of Oman Air are sure that these GSAs will deliver the top-class service to Oman Air and will help in bringing new and more business from these markets. "We are sure that both inbound tourism and outbound tourism between Oman and these countries will prosper greatly," he added.