Stakeholders have criticised the Nepalese government for neither resuming regular flights nor continuing chartered flights.

Although the government had announced resumption of regular flights from August 17, it postponed the plan to September 1 citing the increasing threat of COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from June 10, around 600 chartered flights have been conducted till date and from August 17 the fifth phase of repatriation flights will begin.

“It seems a few travel agencies have influenced the government’s decision,” said Achyut Guragain, president of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, adding, “The government is looting migrant workers in the name of repatriation flights.” According to him, there were initially around four travel agencies that were ticketing for repatriation flights and charging exorbitant fares.

However, after the government came in for criticism over the airfares charged from migrants, it directed airline companies to reduce the fares.

“It was a different situation in the initial phase of repatriation flights, but with the government issuing labour permits now and a large number of Nepalis waiting to return to their work destinations, we have requested the government to allow all travel agencies to book tickets,” Guragain said. “If the government allows workers to go back then passengers will have to pay for one-way ticket only.”

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/stakeholders-slam-govt-for-not-resuming-regular-flights/