Shree Airlines is preparing to bring two Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft into its fleet between February and March 2019.
The company planned to bring three Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft with the aim of expanding company’s capacity and flight services. The carrier has plan to bring third turboprop on April, 2019.
Anil Manandhar, Corporate Manager of Shree Airlines stated that the carrier received No Objection to add three Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft after applying for 14 months.
He said that the company has sent three pilots and three co-pilots to Ethiopian Airlines for training to operate turboprop aircraft.
The carrier will be permitted to operate turboprop aircraft after Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) gives ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).
According to the Air security department of CAAN, three set crew member from Shree Airlines have gone to training in the coordination of Senior Captain Dadhi Ram Niraula on last Saturday.
CAAN informed that As Bombardier Q400 turboprop is a new aircraft type and there are currently no Q400s in the Caan’s registry, CAAN has planned to bring foreign technology.
According to a high official of CAAN stated that Bombardier Q400 turboprop is new fleet for Nepali sky and they don’t have skilled manpower for this for which they have planned to expand the capacity of our manpower by bringing a foreign technology for a few months.
Shree Airlines’s fleet will expand to seven aircraft within a short periods of times as two established airlines- Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines had acquired in more than one and half decades.
The carrier has plans to condcur fliught operation with these aircraft to Simara, Bharatpur, Janakpur, Kathmandu and Tumlingtar making Pokhara as base hub. The carrier planned to operate from Pokhara as a base due to severe traffic congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The airfare war was started in aviation sector after Shree Airlines commenced flight operations. The competition also reduced the air tickets fare.
The carrier has been working to receive international license to commence international flights. In December 2017, the carrier applied for international permit for fixed wing operations. However, Shree Airlines already have international license for its helicopters.
According to the plan, the carrier will operate international flights with its jet aircraft and operate domestic flight with its turboprop aircraft.
The carrier has been operating domestic flights to Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj, Rajbiraj, Biratnagar, Bhadrapur and Bhairahawa.
If Shree Airlines receives permission to operate international flights, the carrier would be fourth airlines of Nepal to operate international flight after Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), Himalaya Airlines and Buddha Air.
Though international airlines companies have occupied Nepalese aviation sector market completely, it will be easy and comfortable for Nepalese passengers if Shree Airlines operate international flights.
