Flights into Nepali capital Kathmandu almost booked out for autumn

KATHMANDU, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- International airlines serving Nepal are seeing a surge in inbound bookings. Almost every flight into Nepali capital Kathmandu is 90 percent booked for October and November while 75 percent of the seats have been booked for September, said travel agents, local press reported on Monday.

According to The Kathmandu Post daily, the rush for tickets may also encourage carriers to hike fares. Tickets are expected to be 20-25 percent dearer this autumn.

"As Nepali travelers have a habit of making their reservations at the last hour, they will have to pay more," said Bhola Bikram Thapa, managing director of President Travels and Tours. "There is a large number of Nepalis in different parts of the world who will be returning home for the festival season, but they are yet to make reservations."

He added that getting a ticket on some routes may be very difficult during the peak season no matter how much travelers are prepared to pay.

The September-November period is the high season for airlines as this is when most foreign tourists visit Nepal and migrant Nepali workers and students return home to celebrate the holiday season with their families.

Inbound from China has been good. Three Chinese carriers, Air China, China Southern and China Eastern, have modest bookings for September but are sold out for October. Indian carriers Air India, Jet Airways, Indigo and Spice Jet are full after Sept. 22.

Similarly, Hong Kong-Kathmandu flights are fully booked from mid-September to mid-October while Bangkok-Kathmandu flights are fully booked for October and November.

The rush for tickets has prompted a number of airlines to increase their frequency. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Gulf Air, Air Asia X, Dragon Air and China Eastern have applied to raise their frequency from September.

Sourced: Xinhuanet