Kathmandu, April 5 -- Yogendra Shakya, a prominent hotel entrepreneur, had to abruptly cancel a mid-April family trip to Hong Kong. The reason was simple: airfares had become prohibitively expensive.

"The airfare is so high. It terrorises everyone," said Shakya, chairman of Ace Hotels, which operates Hotel Ambassador in Lazimpat and Club Himalaya in Nagarkot.

A one-way Kathmandu-Hong Kong ticket now costs around Rs190,000. "We have changed our plan and now intend to visit Jomsom instead," he said.

Shakya's case reflects a broader trend. Travel agencies say many prospective travellers-particularly those yet to book-are postponing or cancelling trips as prices surge.

The spike follows a sharp increase in aviation fuel prices.

On Wednes...