In light of reduced operating hours at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for maintenance, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has urged the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security, along with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, to seek solutions for flight-related issues that have arisen. The TIA has shortened its daily flight schedule by 10 hours, which has led foreign airlines to reduce their flights to Kathmandu. This reduction has doubled ticket prices for flights from Nepal, causing significant difficulties, especially for Nepalis heading abroad for work.
During a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Labor Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari and Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Pandey, Minister Rana emphasized the need to study the situation and find suitable solutions. Representatives from the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) also presented a memorandum to Minister Rana, requesting urgent intervention. The NAFEA representatives explained that ticket prices had more than doubled due to reduced flight times at TIA, placing a heavy financial burden on Nepalis seeking foreign employment.
Minister Rana voiced concerns about the ticket price surge, stating, “The high ticket prices are problematic for workers going abroad, and we’ve received numerous complaints from others affected as well. If airlines are exploiting a monopoly, they must be regulated to bring them in line with necessary standards.”
NAFEA President Rajendra Bhandari, former President Bimal Gautam, and representative Pragyan Nyaupane suggested allowing Nepali workers to fly from Indian airports temporarily to ease the ticket shortage and cost issues. Minister Rana assured that she would initiate diplomatic efforts if this solution became necessary.
Additionally, Minister Rana noted that airlines had been informed of TIA’s maintenance schedule six months in advance, thus deeming the sudden ticket price hike unreasonable. Labor Minister Bhandari added that while the high prices are an issue for foreign-bound workers, they also represent a national concern, necessitating swift solutions.
Tourism Minister Pandey highlighted that airlines had ample notice of TIA’s maintenance, rendering arbitrary fare hikes unacceptable. He reassured that discussions were ongoing to identify options to address the resulting challenges, and solutions would be sought to ensure smooth airport operations while addressing passenger inconveniences.
This collaborative approach among ministers aims to address the mounting concerns around flight disruptions, with immediate plans for both regulatory oversight of fare increases and alternatives for affected passengers.
Source: RSS