KATHMANDU: Rajendra Bajgain, a member of the House of Representatives from the Nepali Congress, held a public protest at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Sunday, voicing strong opposition to the high cost of air travel.
Bajgain condemned the sharp increase in airfares, arguing that it disproportionately affects millions of Nepali youth working in Gulf countries and other parts of the world, who rely on air travel to maintain ties with their families and home country.
Bajgain said that limited employment opportunities within Nepal compel many citizens to seek jobs abroad, and he criticized the high airfares as an additional financial burden on these workers and their families.
The lawmaker further warned that rising airfare prices would negatively impact Nepal’s struggling tourism sector, already hit hard by recent economic challenges and a reduction in tourist numbers.
Following widespread public concern over the airfare increase, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has reached a preliminary agreement with airlines and related stakeholders, establishing a five-point plan to control ticket costs.
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