Nepalese airline offers Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi ticket for Rs 5,000

A Nepalese private airline has started commercial operations from Delhi to Kathmandu and is offering fares half the normal price being quoted by other airlines.

Cosmic Air is also offering one ticket free if a ticket is bought at normal price. But tickets must be purchased before this month-end and will be valid for one year.

''We have launched a promotional fare scheme under which a passenger can fly to the Nepalese capital for Rs 2,700 (taxes extra),'' said SOI group executive chairman R P Pradhan. The Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi fare works out to Rs 5,000 (plus taxes).

Most Indian carriers like Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara charge over Rs 8,000 for economy class (Rs 4,200 one way) and Rs 10,500 for business class (Rs 5,500 one way).

Cosmic has started flying twice a day on Kathmandu-Delhi-Kathmandu route -- in mornings and evenings -- with a 105-seater Fokker 100 aircraft. The airline ran its maiden flight to Delhi on December 1.

The airline will connect cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Varanasi and Bodh Gaya with the Himalayan kingdom next year. Cosmic Air belongs to the 500 million dollar SOI group.