Tourist season begins airlines business increase

KATHMANDU, March 16:With the start of the tourist season, the airlines' business, which had slowed, began to perk up. According to businessmen, the number of tourists who come for trekking and mountain climbing is increasing, and aircraft and helicopter bookings are getting more popular.

Manoj Karki, chair of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) and Managing Director of Summit Air, stated that bookings had increased with the start of the tourist season. This season sees an increase in flights to distant places and tourist destinations such as Lukla and Jomsom. The number of flights in such regions will increase beginning March 15 and continuing through the end of May. According to Karki, this year's bookings are not as encouraging as last year. Summit has been running four to five daily flights to Lukla and two to three flights to Jomsom.

Nepal's tourist seasons are March, April, and May. Tara Air's ground handling manager, Rapke T Sherpa, said bookings had grown somewhat compared to previous months. He stated that despite flights have increased in Lukla. "The travel and trekking company is now predicting that the number of tourists will decrease compared to the previous year because the insurance fee is high and the airfare is expensive when coming to Nepal," Sherpa, the manager of the company, said. Tara currently operates six daily flights from Kathmandu to Lukla. In Jomsom, flights resumed on March 11.

Sitaram Sapkota, Heli Everest's market head said the helicopter  bookings are lower than the prior year, but more than the preceding month.It is expected that the number of tourists visiting Nepal will fall as a route from China's Tibet has been provided as an option for those looking to climb the mountains.

 He says that the total helicopter business has begun to pick up. Dipendra Karna, Buddha Air's information officer, stated that with the commencement of the tourist season, the number of people on board rose. He stated that the number of travelers traveling to Pokhara and other destinations has begun to increase.

According to Yeti Airlines spokesperson Surdshan Bertaula, the number of foreign and domestic travelers is starting to rise. He stated that this season, not only foreign but also domestic tourists are traveling, resulting in an increase in the number of persons boarding airplanes.

Shree Airlines spokesperson Anil Manandhar further stated that more passengers are currently traveling on the airline than last month. He stated that the number of foreign and domestic tourists has increased.

Mukesh Khanal, Marketing Manager of Saurya Airlines, stated that the number of Indian tourists has begun to rise. He stated that bookings are increasing at Saurya, which flies to Biratnagar and Bhadrapur using jet aircraft. Khanal, the market manager, stated that there is no cause to be disappointed given the present booking status.

Currently, 16 to 18 thousand travelers pass via Kathmandu's domestic airport. According to the airport office, this quantity was formerly limited to 10,000 to 12,000 passengers. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 97,426 tourists arrived by plane in February.