Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Pandey issued a warning of action, prompting Himalaya Airlines to halt the sale of its most expensive tickets.
The airline stopped selling high-priced tickets starting Thursday and submitted details of its fares to the ministry.
According to the statement, airfare prices are as follows: Kathmandu-Dubai ranges from NPR 41,408 to NPR 96,778; Kathmandu-Dammam from NPR 34,733 to NPR 74,283; Kathmandu-Kuwait from NPR 27,987 to NPR 63,582; Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur from NPR 27,662 to NPR 73,992; and Kathmandu-Dhaka from NPR 14,837 to NPR 34,420. The airline confirmed that it has ceased selling tickets at the highest prices.
Despite halting the sale of the top-tier tickets, the next available fare for the Kathmandu-Dubai flight is NPR 79,828.
Himalaya Airlines also noted that it had suspended TBA (Travel Booking Authorization) since Kartik 25 (Nepali calendar date) and has been sending notices to travel agencies twice a week, instructing them to sell tickets with minimal margins.
Minister Pandey had summoned representatives of airlines on Wednesday, emphasizing that fares were excessively high, and gave them 24 hours to submit revised fare details. Eleven airlines submitted their reports on Thursday.
Minister Pandey warned that action would be taken against companies charging excessive fares. A task force led by Joint Secretary Indu Ghimire began its work on Friday to address the issue.
