With approximately 25 days left until Dashain, the major festival season in Nepal, ticket bookings for various destinations have already begun. Travelers are actively securing their tickets in anticipation of increased passenger numbers and potential ticket shortages.
Domestic airlines including Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, and Shree Airlines have opened bookings for Dasain flights across all destinations. Despite the surge in bookings, the airlines have assured that ticket reservations are ongoing and passengers can book tickets at their convenience.
The period around Dashain, particularly between the day before Phulpati and Dashami, sees a significant rush for flights out of Kathmandu. Currently, 70% of tickets for Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines have been booked.
According to Dipendra Karna, spokesperson for Buddha Air, some destinations are already heavily booked. “Tickets to Tumlingtar in Sankhuwasabha are fully reserved,” he noted. Passengers began booking their trips two months in advance to secure their preferred travel dates. “Tickets for Tumlingtar may become available only if cancellations occur. Other destinations with fewer flights might face similar availability issues,” Karna added.
Buddha Air operates one daily flight to Tumlingtar using its ATR-72 aircraft. The airline currently has 19 ATR aircraft, managing nearly 150 daily flights.
Sudarshan Bartaula, spokesperson for Yeti Airlines, confirmed a notable increase in ticket bookings for Dashain. He mentioned that many travelers are securing tickets for the day before Phulpati and the day before Tika. Bartaula emphasized that booking in advance can result in cost savings.
“While it is commonly believed that fares increase during Dashain, this is not entirely accurate. Early bookings often allow travelers to secure lower rates,” he said. He also pointed out that flights departing Kathmandu may be full, but return flights often have more availability, making bookings advantageous.
Yeti Airlines operates flights to a range of destinations using its fleet of seven ATR-72 aircraft.
Travelers are advised to book their tickets early to ensure availability and benefit from lower fares as Dasain approaches.
