Kathmandu, Oct. 18: The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) saw its highest international aircraft and passenger movement on record on Monday.

As per the data released by the airport on Tuesday, TIA recorded the movement of 114 international flights and 16,509 internationally-travelling passengers in a single day on Monday. 

The data includes planes and people arriving in and departing from the airport.

This heavy traffic has been attributed to a rise in tourism and the upcoming festivals.

Separately, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati has instructed domestic airline operators to provide secure, reliable, efficient and accessible services to passengers for the coming festivals.

Following public complaints of excessively high flight tickets, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and domestic carriers met at the ministry on Tuesday. 

There, Minister Kirati gave the instruction.

Additionally, as per a press statement issued by MoCTCA, the airliners agreed to gradually decrease the sale of pricey-class tickets and prioritise cheaper ones. 

Similarly, they have agreed to reduce the fare for flights returning to Kathmandu from various locations inside the country.

At the same time, the Ministry also acknowledged that the rise in the price of aviation fuel and aeroplane parts, fluctuation in the exchange rate of American dollars, imposition of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on air tickets and increase in the passenger service and airport service charges had been causing problems for airliners. 

Still, MoCTCA found that the prices were still within the limits fixed by the authorities seven years ago.