Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has ceased flight operations on Nepalgunj-Kathmandu route, barely two months after the national flag carrier resumed its service.

Officials at the NAC’s Nepalgunj office informed that the decision to halt flights was made by the central office.

Air passengers have been facing a hard time to travel on Nepalgunj-Kathmandu route due to the NAC’s recent decision to stop selling the tickets. NAC had resumed its flight service from September 2.

NAC aircraft had been operating flights on Nepalgunj-Kathmandu route on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday every week.

As the NAC belongs to the government, a one-way flight fare was fixed from Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,200. But the private airlines have been charging Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000.

Due to the closure of NAC’s flight, the private airlines have been charging higher fare.

“Many passengers have been asking tickets to Kathmandu, but, how can we sell the tickets as the centre has not opened the tickets,” said NAC regional Chief Muktiram Pandey, adding, “We have not received any official letter from the centre. Tickets selling have been closed for now.”

Buddha Airlines, Yeti, Saurya and Shree, among other airlines, have been operating daily flights from Nepalgunj-Kathmandu.

NAC’s General Managar Ganesh Bahadur Thapa, however, said that the service on Nepalgunj-Kathmandu route might have been temporarily shut to grant leave to the pilot.

“Pilot does not operate additional flights apart from his regular time. It might be the reason,” he said. “The service from Nepalgunj-Kathmandu has not been closed,” he added.