Chopper fare to be unifor from March 1

The helicopter service provider airlines companies are making their fares uniform from March 1 as they have decided to charge $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season.
"Though some light helicopter service providers were charging $1,880 earlier, others were already charging $2,500 in tourist season and $2,200 in off-season," said Bikash Rana, chairman of Fishtail Air -- a helicopter charter company operating within Nepal based in Kathmandu. "The uniform fare will be effective from March 1," he added.
Due to difficult geography, most of the western hilly districts are linked to the capital with the air services only and for emergency aid the helicopter is the only means of transportation.
Helicopter services industry is well established also due to rising rescue operations in the mountains. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), there are 10 helicopter operators with valid Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), after some of them have not renewed their licence, though some 18 airlines were registered in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for helicopter operations.
Fishtail Air, Shree Airlines, Manang Air, Mountain Helicopters, Muktinath Airlines, Sky Tech Heli Safari, Air Dynasty, Simrik Air, Hamro Air are currently operating helicopter service providers.
"Of the total 63 AOC issued by the CAAN, some 29 airlines operators AOC have been invalid and cancelled and 34 have valid AOC," CAAN director Madhav Prasad Dahal said, adding that 27 airlines are in operation, seven operators AOC is valid but they are not in operation, 12 operators have valid AOC for fixed wing and 12 have AOC for Aviation Sports operation.