Kathmandu, Jan. 18 -- Domestic air travel was hit hard by the economic slowdown, high taxes and crashes in 2023. This was in sharp contrast to 2022 when passenger numbers boomed.

Nepal's domestic airlines-nine fixed-wing operators and 12 helicopters-flew 4.15 million passengers in 2023.

According to Tribhuvan International Airport statistics, domestic airlines saw a sharp 7.07 percent drop in passenger growth in 2023, as compared to 2022 figures.

This translates to a loss of 315,826 flyers in a year.

"There are many factors behind the drop in passenger numbers in domestic airlines. A key reason was the economic slowdown," said Pratap Babu Tiwari, general manager at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

"Besides, high airfare also disc...