NA resumes flights between Ilam and Kathmandu

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT 

Ilam, Jan 16 : Flights have resumed from Falgunanda Sukilumba Airport in Ilam from today. Nepal Airlines has started flights from Ilam-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Ilam one day a week from Sunday. Kedar Thapa, mayor of Ilam Municipality, informed that Nepal Airlines will fly every Sunday.

Mayor Thapa informed that there was an agreement between Ilam Municipality and Nepal Airlines to fly one day a week. A flight from Ilam to Kathmandu has been scheduled at 9:30 in the morning. On the first day, the flight was delayed for some time. Nepal Airlines came from Kathmandu with seven passengers and returned with eight passengers from Ilam on the first day.  A 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft will be operated at the airport.

According to Ilam Municipality, one-way fare from Ilam to Kathmandu is set at Rs. 6,300. However, special discounts are provided to senior citizens, students and children, according to the municipality. Two senior citizens above 70 years of age in one flight were given a 50 per cent discount on the fare excluding taxes.

Similarly, two students under 25 years of age in one flight were given a 25 per cent fare discount on the amount excluding tax based on their student ID card and age certificate. Likewise, all children between 2 years and 12 years have been given 25 per cent discount on the fare based on birth registration. Passengers can buy tickets from the first floor of City Mart at Ilam Bazaar, the municipality said.

Ilam-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Ilam flight will take 50 to 55 minutes. Tara Air started commercial flights at the airport last February under an agreement with Ilam Municipality. However, the airport was deserted after Tara canceled its flights from last May due to lack of passengers. The residents of the district are happy after the resumption of flights on the initiative of Ilam Municipality.

Residents of Panchthar, Taplejung and Darjeeling of India are also expected to get facilities from this airport. A 670-metre long and 20-metre wide runway has been paved in Ilam airport.