ATR 72 aircraft to join Yeti Airlines fleet for the first time
September 22, 2016 – Kathmandu
One of the largest domestic carrier of Nepal Yeti Airlines is in the final stage of preparation on procurement of two new ATR 72-500 and some ATR 42-500 series aircraft, a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliner manufactured by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR for the first time in its history.
The addition of two new fleets has been targeted to be in service by mid-2017 which is an enhanced version of ATR 72-500 series aircraft renowned as most fuel efficient and will have 74 seat configurations. Later by mid-2018, the airline will add number of ATR 42-500 aircraft according to a source from airline.
Ground handling and media manager at Yeti airlines, Mr. Bhim Raj Rai, informed that the airlines is in a phase of studying the performance and economic viability of the incoming aircraft. Yeti will be the second operator of the aircraft type in the country after Buddha Air.
The airline believes that the addition of ATR aircraft will support and widen the connectivity network on the trunk and short haul routes.
The airline plans to serve the routes like Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa by ATR 72-500 aircraft while the ATR 42 will serve Janakpur, Tumlingtar, Bharatpur and Mountain sectors. With the introduction of these aircrafts the smaller aircraft it is currently operating i.e. Jetstream 41 series aircraft will phase out gradually.
Yeti Airlines is a well-established airliner in Nepal in 1998. It currently has fleet of seven Jetstream 41s and serves 10 major destinations of Nepal.
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