Kathmandu, Oct. 12 -- On October 7, Prem Singh Saud wrote on his Facebook page that a flight from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi in Sudurpashchim province, in far-western Nepal, was more expensive than a flight from Kathmandu to Delhi. Posting a screenshot of the airfare to Dhangadhi, he asked: "If Sudurpashchim is not far, why is the airfare farther than Delhi?"

Padam Subedi also raised the issue, borrowing the words of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who once said, "Sudur Aab Dur Nahi. Jhikkai Jhikkai Maya Timilai".

"The Kathmandu-Dhangadhi flight fare for about 50 minutes: Rs22,180. But Kathmandu-Delhi for about 1 hour 50 minutes: Rs15,367," he wrote.

The question was straightforward: Why does a flight of about 50 minutes cost so much more th...