In Jan-Sept, TIA handled 2 million passengers

KATHMANDU, DEC 22 -

International air passenger movement grew 8.29 percent to 2.09 million in the first nine months of 2012. According to Tribhuvan International Airport ( TIA ), airlines flew 160,141 more travellers during the period January-September compared to the same period last year. Currently, 29 international airlines serve Kathmandu.

Similarly, aircraft movement at TIA amounted to 16,990 in the first nine months of 2012, up 3.18 percent year on year. According to the figures, the country’s sole international airport handled 63 take-offs and landings daily.

Qatar Airways topped the chart during the period January-September flying 268,548 passengers, followed by Jet Airways, Indian Airlines and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC). Qatar’s passenger movement jumped 40.34 percent during the review period. Jet Airways saw a modest 2.88 percent growth, while passenger movement of Indian Airlines soared 52.33 percent. Indian Airlines climbed to the third spot from the ninth spot elbowing out NAC in terms of passenger carriage.

Nepal’s flag carrier slipped to the fourth position with its passenger occupancy dropping 5.11 percent. Thai Airways, Gulf Air and Etihad Airways saw the strongest growth in passenger movement in the first nine months of 2012.

However, budget carriers Air Arabia and Fly Dubai saw a negative passenger growth of 5.55 and 23.97 percent respectively. Spice Jet, which made an impressive beginning in the Nepali skies, saw its passenger movement grow a modest 1.41 percent in the review period. The airline entered Nepal in October 2010.

Three Chinese carriers connecting Kathmandu flew 101,155 travellers in the review period, up 27.62 percent. Air China, China Southern and China Eastern saw healthy growths of 19.28 percent, 34.14 percent and 30.13 percent respectively compared to the corresponding period in 2011. Meanwhile, Nepali private carrier Buddha Air’s passenger movement plunged 79 percent to 1,270 in the first nine months of 2012. During the same period last year, Buddha Air flew 5,883 passengers.

Flights through TIA are being routinely delayed as its infrastructure and technology has been stretched to the limit with a massive growth in traffic. TIA officials said that pressure usually mounts during the winter (October-December) which is the peak tourist season in Nepal.

Source: The Kathmandu Post