Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

Domestic air travel in Nepal has become costlier by up to Rs 880 per flight after the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) increased the price of aviation fuel by Rs 20 per liter, effective Monday.

Following the fuel price revision, airline operators have increased fares by raising fuel surcharges. Earlier, at the end of June, when aviation fuel prices were reduced by Rs 40 per liter, airlines had lowered fares proportionately.

Under the revised rates, passengers will have to pay higher fares for travel to various domestic destinations. According to the Airlines Operators Association, the fuel surcharge has increased the most - by Rs 880 - for flights to Dhangadhi, one of the farthest domestic destinations from Kathmandu.

Similarly, the surcharge has increased by Rs 688 for mountain flights from Kathmandu and by Rs 690 for flights to Surkhet. Among other long-haul destinations, fuel surcharges have risen by Rs 654 for Nepalgunj, Rs 560 for Bhadrapur, Rs 478 for Biratnagar, and Rs 410 for Bhairahawa.

Airports located closer to Kathmandu have seen relatively smaller increases. Airfares have risen by Rs 405 for Rajbiraj, Rs 368 for Tumlingtar, Rs 314 for Pokhara, Rs 258 for Janakpur, and Rs 212 for Bharatpur. Meanwhile, flights to Simara - the closest destination from Kathmandu - have recorded the smallest increase, with the fuel surcharge rising by only Rs 183.

In addition to the fuel surcharge, airlines include the base fare, airport service charge, and value-added tax (VAT) in the total ticket price.

Following the latest revision, fares for flights from Kathmandu have been set at Rs 6,000-10,000 for Dhangadhi, Rs 1,800-7,400 for Nepalgunj, and Rs 1,700-6,900 for Bhadrapur.

Similarly, fares have been fixed at Rs 1,300-5,500 for Biratnagar, Rs 1,100-4,700 for Bhairahawa, Rs 900-3,600 for Pokhara, Rs 700-2,900 for Janakpur, Rs 600-2,600 for Bharatpur, Rs 500-2,000 for Simara, and Rs 517-2,000 for Surkhet.

Passengers departing from airports in the accessible zone are also required to pay an airport service charge in addition to the ticket fare.