Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Newly appointed ambassadors have not been able to depart for their designated destinations even after their swearing-in, thanks to the inability of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange flight tickets.
Delays in arranging flight tickets for ambassadors are nothing new. In the past, the ministry made airlines to add extra flight for the President due to its inability to arrange flight tickets.
Foreign ministry officials blame the inability of Sea Links Travel and Tours, the agency responsible for providing tickets for diplomatic or special international flights, for the delay. However, despite such repeated incidents, the ministry’s leadership continues to depend on such an irresponsible agency.
Flight tickets for five ambassadors, who took their oath a week ago, have still not been arranged. Some ambassadors in countries with direct flights from Nepal have already reached their posts after enduring lengthy layovers.
Recently, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister faced criticism for traveling economy class despite booking a business-class ticket to Thailand. The inability of the ministry to penalize the travel agency for such lapses has also drawn criticism from the newly appointed ambassadors.
“The agency responsible for ticketing for diplomatic and special international flights appears to be trying to back out of its contractual obligations,” said a foreign ministry official. “Citing flight reductions, the agency is now saying that it cannot provide tickets at the agreed rates.”
The ministry signed an agreement with Sea Links Travel and Tours on October 30 to arrange tickets for diplomatic and special flights. However, ministry officials allege that the agency, with the backing of former bureaucrats and political connections, is deliberately withholding tickets to charge higher rates.
Earlier, flight tickets for the President and his entourage to Baku to attend COP-29 was arranged at the eleventh hour.
Since November 8, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has shut Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu from 10 pm to 8 am for infrastructure upgrading works.
Stating that the closure has affected ticket prices, the agency has been urging for revision of agreed rates.
Raju Dhakal, chairperson of Sea Links Travel and Tours, said he is unable to provide tickets at the agreed rates as flight prices have gone up by as high as 400%. “I have submitted an application to the ministry for revision of flight rates citing this emergency situation,” Dhakal added.
Shubhanga Parajuli, joint spokesperson of the ministry and deputy chief of the Administration Division, said the agency must honor the agreed rates. “Ticket prices cannot be adjusted, and the agency must provide tickets under any circumstance. The agency should be aware that contracts won through bidding come with the risks of profit and loss,” he added.
Another official added that the agreement allows the ministry to procure tickets from other providers if the agency fails to deliver. The extra cost incurred in such cases would be deducted from the existing contract with Sea Links.
Sea Links has been handling ticketing for the foreign ministry for the past seven years. Officials say that the agency is now trying to evade its responsibilities due to the challenging circumstances. “However, the ministry will stand firm on the agreement. It has no authority to declare emergencies or vacuum periods,” said Parajuli.
Diplomatic and special travel costs the government over Rs 150 million annually. These expenses are likely to rise due to increased appointments of ambassadors and staff promotions.
The ambassadors awaiting their flight tickets include Jang Bahadur Chauhan (Russian Federation), Chandra Kumar Ghimire (United Kingdom), Shanil Nepal (Spain), Dr Shivamaya Tumbahangphe (South Korea) and Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma (India). All these ambassadors took their oaths on December 23.
