Kathmadnu, April 1 -- owned oil monopoly on Wednesday sharply increased aviation fuel prices to a historic high, citing soaring global energy costs triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The Nepal Oil Corporation said aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for international airlines surged by 77.63 percent to $1,716 per kilolitre in Kathmandu, with comparable increases reported in other major cities. The previous highest rate was recorded on June 19, 2022, when ATF was raised to $1,645 per kilolitre.

Similarly, ATF prices for domestic carriers jumped by 97.63 percent to Rs251 per litre (around $1.65), marking an unprecedented rise in the country's aviation fuel costs. The earlier peak was on September 1, 2022, when prices rea...