Nepali Skies Boom: Airlines Flock to Domestic Market with New Aircraft

Kathamandu,Nepal:  In a significant surge of competition among private air service companies in Nepal, six large aircraft have been imported within a year, with another set to arrive in Kathmandu by Saturday. This year, Shree Air added three 80-seater Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, purchased from Alaska Air. Two were added in February 2023, and one on June 15, bringing Shree Air's fleet to 11 large aircraft.

Following an ATR 72-500 accident in Pokhara, Yeti Airlines has also bolstered its fleet, adding two ATR 72-500 turboprop planes from Bangladesh's Novo Air in January 2023. With the support of new partner Asian Life Insurance, Yeti plans to add two more aircraft, aiming for a total fleet of 10 by 2024.

Buddha Air, a leading domestic airline, introduced an ATR 72-500 aircraft on October 27, 2023, and is set to import another soon. Meanwhile, helicopter operators are also expanding, with Heli Everest adding two helicopters and Manang Air adding one.