Kathmandu, November 17
Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badriprasad Pandey, has warned airlines against arbitrarily increasing airfare and exploiting passengers. He pledged strict action against companies charging excessive fares in violation of consumer rights.
Passengers have raised complaints about soaring airfare prices following the 10-hour daily closure of Tribhuvan International Airport for ongoing construction work, which began last Friday.
In an interview, Minister Pandey stated, “We have instructed airlines to charge fair and reasonable prices that do not violate consumer rights. If they act otherwise, we are committed to taking stern action.”
He added that the Ministry has already held discussions on the issue with the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). In coordination with the three ministries, directives have been issued to airlines to avoid overcharging.
The Ministry has also made a five-point decision addressing the issue. It directed CAAN to stop travel agencies from holding and selling tickets at inflated prices. According to Minister Pandey, airfare rates have gradually returned to their previous levels, and CAAN has been instructed to publish detailed records of ticket sales, including the pricing of cheap and expensive tickets.
On improving domestic aviation, Minister Pandey highlighted plans to increase flights to Bhairahawa and expand operations in Pokhara. Currently, five airlines operate flights to Bhairahawa, and the Ministry is working on a plan to increase this number to 10.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to making Bhairahawa a hub for labour-related travel and Lumbini pilgrims while expanding tourist-centric flights from Pokhara. The Ministry is closely monitoring the implementation of these plans to ensure their sustainability.