NAC adds flights to remote western districts

By Rajan Rawat ,Humla, Dec. 28: The national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), has expanded its services from Nepalgunj Station to various remote hilly and mountainous districts in western Nepal. 

This move is expected to provide significant relief to passengers who were previously forced to undertake long and difficult journeys by road.

The NAC has released a new flight schedule, adding two extra days of service compared to heretofore. 

Yam Raj Singh, Regional Manager of Nepalgunj, NAC, said that the corporation has expanded its services to the mountainous districts of Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces to operate five days a week, keeping passenger convenience in mind. 

Previously, services to these areas were available only three days a week.

Now, Nepal Airlines aircraft will have a night stay in Nepalgunj four days a week.

He said that the airline has started flying from Nepalgunj and Surkhet on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday whereas earlier, the NAC flights were limited to Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

This expansion is expected to bring significant relief to travelers who were previously compelled to make long and arduous journeys by road, he said.

According to the schedule released by the corporation, flights from Nepalgunj to Bajura and Nepalgunj–Jumla–Surkhet–Jumla–Nepalgunj operate on Sundays.

Similarly, on Mondays, flights operate from Nepalgunj to Simkot–Surkhet–Simkot–Nepalgunj, Nepalgunj–Talcha, and Nepalgunj–Jumla.

On Tuesdays, flights run from Nepalgunj to Simkot, Nepalgunj–Dolpa, and Nepalgunj–Rukum–Kathmandu.

On Thursdays, flights operate from Nepalgunj to Bajura and from Nepalgunj to Jumla, while on Fridays, flights serve from Nepalgunj to Bajura, from Nepalgunj to Talcha, from Nepalgunj to Dolpa, and from Nepalgunj to Rukum via Kathmandu. 

The airlines charges for scheduled flights in these areas. Concessions for targeted groups 

Under its corporate social responsibility, Nepal Airlines has also arranged special discounts for citizens of various categories.

According to Nepal Airlines, 50 per cent discount has been arranged for senior citizens above seventy years of age, while a 50 per cent discount has also been arranged for differently-abled citizens (A and B categories). 

Similarly, 25 per cent discount has been arranged for children (below 12 years) and school and college students. 

Likewise, 50 per cent discount has also been arranged for cancer patients.