Simrik Airlines
Simrik Airlines Pvt. Ltd. is an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal operating domestic scheduled flights from its base at Tribhuvan International Airport.[2][3][4] It is the partner company of Simrik Air, a Nepalese helicopter airline currently operating four helicopters.[5]
| |||||||
Founded | 2009 | ||||||
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AOC # | 052/2009[1] | ||||||
Hubs | Kathmandu | ||||||
Fleet size | 5 | ||||||
Destinations | 3 | ||||||
Headquarters | Kathmandu, Nepal | ||||||
Website | www.simrikairlines.com |
History
The airline was founded in 2009 from the remainders of ill-fated Guna Airlines, which it acquired for NRs 350 million, after latter ceased trading due to financial difficulties.[6][7] Simrik Airlines used the Brand of Guna for some more time before renaming and repainting the two Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, that were previously operated by Guna Airlines.[8] On 23 October 2013, Simrik Airlines signed a contract with Agni Air leasing out five aircraft of Agni Air, two BAe Jetstream 41 and three Dornier 228, after Agni had been grounded since mid-November 2012 crippled by massive debts.[9][10] After selling the two Dornier 228s in mid-2017, the airline is left with only two functioning planes, as the Jetstream planes of former Agni Air are still grounded.[11]
In August 2019, Simrik Airlines was grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal who found that the airline was using "substandard spare parts".[12] One month later, the Civil Aviation Authority granted flight permission again.[13]
Destinations
Simrik Airlines flies to the following destinations as of March 2019:[14]
Destination | Airport | Notes |
---|---|---|
Bhairahawa | Gautam Buddha Airport | [15] |
Bharatpur | Bharatpur Airport | |
Jomsom | Jomsom Airport | Terminated[11] |
Kathmandu | Tribhuvan International Airport | Hub |
Lukla | Tenzing-Hillary Airport | Terminated[11] |
Pokhara | Pokhara Airport | |
Simara | Simara Airport | Terminated[16] |
Simikot | Simikot Airport | Terminated[11] |
Tumlingtar | Tumlingtar Airport | Terminated[17] |
The airline also offers daily sightseeing mountain flights from Kathmandu. The flights depart in the early morning hours and return to the airport one hour later.[18]
Fleet
Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Y | Total | ||||
Beechcraft 1900C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 | Acquired from Guna Airlines[7] |
BAe Jetstream 41 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 29 | Currently Grounded[11][20] |
Total | 5 | 0 |
Aircraft (in Fleet) | Introduction | Exit from service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Dornier 228 (2) | 2013 | 2017 | Leased from Agni Air, sold to Sita Air[11] |
Accidents and incidents
- On April 10, 2015, the nose wheel tyre of the landing gear of a Simrik Airlines Dornier 228 was punctured. There were no casualties reported. The incident occurred at 10:00 AM and the runway was reopened at 1:00 PM.[21]
References
- "Civil Aviation Report 2017" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- "Simrik Airlines, Mountain Flights in Nepal - Over Everest, Fly High on Himalayas operated by Sworna Travels & Tours, KTM, Nepal". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Simrik Airlines domestic flights, Kathmandu Pokhara, Kathmandu Simara, Mountain Flight, Pokhara Kathmandu, Bhairahawa Kathmandu". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Simrik Air officially starts commercial flights". The Himalayan Times. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- "Simrik Fix Wing Partner". Simrik Air. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- "About Us". Simirk Airlines. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- Sunir Pandey. "High costs, low fares - Nation - Nepali Times". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Simrik Air takes over Guna Airlines". República. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Simrik Air leases entire fleet of Agni Air". Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- "Simrik Airlines to fly Agni's planes". Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- "Simrik Airlines left with fewer flights". Aviation Nepal. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- "Suspension on Simrik Airlines' flights continues". The Himalayan Times. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- "CAAN permits Simrik Airlines to resume its flights". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- "Flight Schedule". Simrik Airlines. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- "Fly directly from Pokhara to Lumbini - Nepflights". Nepflights.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Flight Schedule". Simrik Airlines. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- "Simrik Airlines (सिम्रिक एयरलाइन्स) to commence regular flights to Bharatpur and Tumlingtar". Aviation Nepal. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- "Mountain Flight". Simrik Airlines. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- "Beechcraft 1900". Simrik Airlines. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Simrik Airlines to fly Agni's planes". Ekantipur. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- Today- Lukla Airport shut down for Three Hours Retrieved 10 April 2015.