By Chhetu Sherpa, Kathmandu, Sep. 13: The Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) has said that a hassle-free flight service would be provided to the passengers during the festive season this year.

"As Dashain, Tihar and Chhath are around the corner, the TIA and Airlines Operators Association Nepal (AOAN) are planning to add more number flights to ensure that the passengers easily get tickets to fly to their homes," said Pratap Bahadur Tiwari, managing director at the TIA.

Following a slight decrease in COVID-19 cases, the TIA has increased the daily flight operations. Currently, 107 aircraft take off and land in the Kathmandu-based airport daily.

"As the daily number of infections is decreasing, we have planned to increase the number of flights during Dashain and manage easy access to flight tickets for all the passengers," said Tiwari.

Previously, the airport used to operate up to 300 domestic flights every day.

Currently, 38 airplanes of nine airline companies and 33 choppers of 10 helicopter companies are providing domestic flight services in the countries. Similarly, Shree Airlines is adding two aircraft and Guna Airlines is adding seven aircraft soon.

By increasing flight operations, the AOAN is also introducing schemes to provide flight services at a fair price to the passengers.

"As the ATR-72 aircraft has reached all urban areas across the nation, the passengers will not have to face scarcity of flight tickets this festive season," said Sudarsan Bartaula, spokesperson at Yeti Airlines.  

Similarly, Dipendra Karn, communications manager at Buddha Air, said, "We are planning to add more flights and provide discounts during Dashain and Tihar."

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, in comparison to 2019, the number of passengers taking domestic flights has decreased by 59.46 per cent and those taking international flights by 73.27 per cent in 2020, as reported by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).