The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has forwarded its demand to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, seeking revision on the existing airfares in proportion to the recent price hike of petroleum products.

The AOAN Tuesday issued a seven-day deadline to concerned government authorities to decide on the matter. It also demanded that the government give nod to hike in air ticket prices.

Bikas Rana, chairman of the AOAN, said after submitting a memorandum to the ministry, “Due to increase in the price of aviation fuel we are bound to demand raise in the airfare by 20 to 25 percent as fuel surcharge”.

“We do not mean to cause extra financial burden on the passengers by increasing the airfare but we are compelled to do so because we don’t have any other options at the moment,” he said, mentioning that landing, parking and housing fees have gone up massively during the last four years whereas there hasn’t been a single revise on the airfares.

He argued, “There is no reason why the government should not listen to the demands of airline operators. Our demand is that the government should revise airfare every two years.”