KATHMANDU: Bookings for advance tickets to the Dashain festival have already started, despite the festival being approximately one month away. The inability to get tickets closer to the festival date and the possibility of costlier airfares are the driving forces behind this early booking trend.

Bus tickets for the Dashain festival can be reserved starting in the second half of September, while air tickets can already be booked. To guarantee availability and avoid the last-minute rush, many individuals choose to book flights well in advance.

The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal reports that bookings for most air destinations have already started, with tickets available online. The trend of early bookings is particularly noticeable for remote destinations compared to more accessible ones.

Spokesperson Muralidhar Joshi noted that there is a higher rush for air tickets to remote destinations like Tumlingtar and Surkhet. Although accessible destinations have a steady flow of bookings, flights to important domestic routes are experiencing increased demand.

Domestic airlines typically start accepting Dashain bookings from mid-August. Due to high demand, flights to some destinations are already fully booked. Passengers traveling from cities or international locations to their villages are among those who have started booking their flights.

Currently, there is no discussion about increasing the number of flights based on booking volumes or the status of airplanes. The current flight schedule remains unchanged despite the surge in bookings.

Information officer for Buddha Air, Dipendra Kumar Karna, reported that 60 percent of Dashain bookings have been completed. There is significant demand for flights on the first and seventh days of Dashain.

Shree Airlines Private Ltd. Corporate Manager indicated that 80 percent of their aircraft are currently in operation and that targeted bookings for Dashain are already underway.

Overall, the early booking trend for Dashain reflects the high demand for air travel during the festival, especially for flights to remote areas, with a notable rush for seats on key dates.