Buddha Air adding 2 new ATR-72 aircraft within August

Kathmandu: The major domestic operators of Nepal are in hot competition to add more aircraft and increase the market share.

Buddha Air is going to add two new ATR 72 aircraft in its present fleet of 7 ATR-72, 3 ATR-42 and 2 Beechcraft 1900D aircraft.

Shree Airlines received its newest addition of Dash 8 Q 400 aircraft for in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Similarly, Yeti Airlines also added a new ATR 72 aircraft in its fleet just few weeks before in July.

According to an official from Buddha Air, the first of two ATRs is going to arrive Kathmandu by the end of this month, August. The other aircraft will join Buddha Air by Mid of September this year. The aircraft are in final phase of purchase.

Recently the one of the oldest private airlines of India, Jet Airways capturing large market went into verge of bankruptcy and shut down its operation. The two ATR are going to be acquired from Jet Airways of India.  The aircraft are in final stage of purchase as the insurance processing is going on. After fulfillment of all the paper works the first aircraft will land in Nepal within this month.

Buddha Air has targeted to voyage a smooth operation and timely maintenance of its aircraft with the addition of the new aircraft. The new aircraft will also help in expanding routes and serviceability of the carrier.

The two aircraft have acquired Nepali registration of ‘9N-ANH’ and ‘9N-ANI’ to fly in the Nepalese sky. ATRs have been popular choice to popular carriers of Nepal since a long time ago. The recent purchase of Canadian Dash 8 Q400 turboprop aircraft has entered Nepalese aviation as a competitor for ATR-72. With the introduction of these regional aircraft, there could be competition in service and fare release of the carriers operating with ATR and Dash 8 aircraft.