Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Domestic airfares have gone up after airlines raised fuel surcharges, following a sharp hike in aviation fuel prices.
The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) increased the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for domestic carriers by Rs 124 per litre with effect from Tuesday midnight. After the hike, the price of ATF has reached Rs 251 per liter.
Citing a heavy rise in fuel prices, domestic carriers raise fuel surcharges by up to Rs 5,453 from Wednesday morning. Fuel surcharge to Dhangadhi, the longest air route from Kathmandu, has gone up by Rs 5,435, while surcharge to Simara, the shortest route from Kathmandu, has increased by Rs 1,110.
With the revision in fuel surcharges, the upper limit airfare for the Kathmandu–Dhangadhi route has reached Rs 23,059. For comparison, the one-way airfare to New Delhi on Indigo for this Friday costs Rs 22,777. Although the lowest airfare to Dhagadhi has been fixed at Rs 14,457, the lowest airfare is rarely available.
Likewise, the highest airfare has reached Rs 15,837 for Kathmandu–Bhadrapur, Rs 12,765 for Kathmandu–Biratnagar, Rs 7,070 for Kathmandu–Janakpur, Rs 5,973 for Kathmandu–Bharatpur, Rs 8,605 for Kathmandu–Pokhara, Rs 11,016 for Kathmandu–Bhairahawa, Rs 17,148 for Kathmandu–Nepalgunj, Rs 9,920 for Kathmandu–Tumlingtar, Rs 5,098 for Kathmandu–Simara, and Rs 10,750 for Kathmandu–Rajbiraj.
Similarly, the lowest airfare has reached Rs 9,989 for Kathmandu–Bhadrapur, Rs 8,088 for Kathmandu–Biratnagar, Rs 4,565 for Kathmandu–Janakpur, Rs 3,885 for Kathmandu–Bharatpur, Rs 5,515 for Kathmandu–Pokhara, Rs 7,006 for Kathmandu–Bhairahawa, Rs 10,800 for Kathmandu–Nepalgunj, Rs 14,457 for Kathmandu–Dhangadhi, Rs 6,327 for Kathmandu–Tumlingtar, Rs 3,344 for Kathmandu–Simara, and Rs 8,512 for Kathmandu–Rajbiraj.
