Airline operators are engaged in adding new aircraft while the country is still lacking well facilitated airport.
Not only prestigious companies like Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines but new airline operators have also come forward to buy new aircraft for expansion of services and step into the Nepalese sky.
The only international airport of the country is becoming narrower every day. The traffic congestion has escalated rapidly. Not only national but international airlines are also facing the same situation due to high traffic especially during the afternoon.
Mostly the new aircraft that are being added by the airlines focuses on enhancing service on trunk routes where the passenger movement is high. However, in the rural areas the service have not seem to grow. According to the airline operators, the trunk routes are more competitive and profitable.
The government owned Nepal Airlines Corporation is also making various preparations to bring new aircraft while the private companies are procuring new aircraft one after another.
Buddha Air increased its fleet to 10 as its additional ATR 72 landed at TIA yesterday evening. In the next ten years, Buddha Air has been preparing to bring 20 new jetliners for international flight operations.
Similarly, Yeti airlines which is operating 6 Jetstream 41 aircraft 30-seat capacity has already procured 2 ATR 72 aircraft and will be adding more in the near future.
Likewise, Shree airlines who brought 3 Canadian aircrafts all at once, two aircraft having 50 seats and one with 78 seats is also planning to bring another aircraft. Saurya on the other hand will also be adding CRJ jet soon. BB airways has already bought NAC’s Boeing 757 and is preparing to initiate operation from Kathmandu.
As per the information, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the airlines to bring new aircraft but allocate the base outside Kathmandu valley at Biratnagar, Bhaairahawa, Nepalgunj, Pokhara airports.
CAAN also said that the new airline companies at the present time will not be receiving Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) due to escalating air traffic and parking bay congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Until and unless the second international airport project completes and comes into operation, the AOC approval is beyond imagination.
Only 9 aircraft can be parked at international parking bay of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) while 17 aircraft can be parked in domestics parking bay but around 28 aircraft have been accommodating at the congested bay.
