Airline companies in Nepal have agreed to continue selling tickets at lower fares until the road network is fully operational following a directive from Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey.

The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) announced that its members would strictly implement the government’s instruction to refrain from selling tickets at the higher government-imposed tariffs.

Previously, airlines had agreed to reduce airfares for three days following the government’s intervention, but with road transport disrupted due to floods and landslides, the low fares will remain in place until further notice. The AOAN’s press release emphasized that airlines must not sell tickets at the highest rates imposed by the government while the roadways are still inoperable.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) is preparing to suspend advance bus ticket bookings for the Dashain festival. The decision comes in response to the severe damage caused by floods and landslides to the country’s road infrastructure.

FNNTE senior vice president Saroj Sitaula stated that bookings, which had opened on September 28 in coordination with the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), will be closed after consultations with the government. Many buses have been stranded at various points, including Swayambhu, Kalanki, and Nagdhunga, due to impassable roads.

While some vehicles have resumed operations from Kathmandu’s bus park, many have been unable to reach their destinations. Key highways, such as the Araniko Highway, remain closed, further complicating transportation in the region.