December 25: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to study cartel in domestic flights.    
The ministry has asked the CAAN to study the matter after it was learnt that Buddha Air  , Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines and Saurya Airlines fixed airfare in cahoots with each other.    
Joint-Secretary at the ministry, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, said they had asked the CAAN to study the issue of cartel. Ministry has warned of initiating action if the airline companies are found to be involved in cartel. He assured that such activities would be controlled. According to Lamichhane, air fare cannot not be determined in collusion with each other in the open market and liberal economy. The National Planning Commission is also studying the issue of cartel in the domestic airlines companies.    
A committee has been formed under the coordination of NPC member Dr Ram Kumar Phunyal to carry out a study on carteling.    
The airlines companies have been accused of being involved in syndicate while fixing the air fares. -- RSS