Buddha Air, one of Nepal’s leading private airline companies, has completed 29 years in the business on October 11. The company’s mountain tourism and aviation network has contributed to Nepal’s long-standing air connectivity between cities, regional hubs, and major tourist destinations. The airline company made its first flight on October 11, 1997, with a single aircraft. It started with a mountain sightseeing tour which took passengers above the Everest peak and returned to Kathmandu.
Buddha Air has since grown to become a major domestic airline connecting Nepal’s major cities, regional airports and tourist centres. The anniversary is a major milestone for Nepal’s private aviation industry. Buddha Air serves more than 27 million passengers with 16 aircraft. Buddha Air carries more than 160 daily flights and controls more than 60 percent of the domestic aviation market. The airline has contributed to connecting Nepal’s distant and rugged terrain through its domestic air network.
From a Small Company to a Regional Airline
Buddha Air started its commercial flight operations from a single Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. The airline primarily served mountain sightseeing purposes before expanding its network to serve more destinations. It later acquired ATR turboprop aircraft and grew as a domestic airline and an international carrier with flights to India. Today, the company serves major domestic destinations such as Pokhara, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Janakpur, Bhairahawa and Bharatpur. It also serves Bhadrapur, Simara, Surkhet, Tumlingtar and Rajbiraj regional destinations with its ATR aircraft. The airline has played a major role in connecting Nepal’s major cities with its mountainous and inaccessible terrain.
Connecting Major Tourist Attractions
Mountain tourism is a major component of Buddha Air’s operations. The airline offers an Everest experience flight from Kathmandu, offering a close view of the Everest peak. The Pokhara-based airline also offers mountain flights to see the Annapurna range and the Fishtail Mountain. Such aviation services enable tourists to enjoy the beauty of Nepal’s mountain ranges without the need to trek or climb long mountain tracks. Besides offering mountain tourism, the airline connects Nepal’s major tourist destinations with its domestic air services. For instance, Pokhara is connected to other destinations as the city serves as a major gateway to Nepal’s Himalayan mountain ranges.
Similarly, Bharatpur hosts the Chitwan National Park while Bhairahawa is the main gateway to the ancient Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. Other than connecting these destinations with Kathmandu, the airline enables tourists to combine their visit to these sites with shorter domestic flights. In addition to serving domestic destinations, the airline offers international services to Varanasi and Kolkata in India. These services facilitate the large number of Nepalese Hindus who perform religious rituals in Varanasi as well as business and tourism activities between the two neighboring countries. Buddha Air’s domestic and international networks have played a major role in Nepal’s expanding aviation network.
Maintenance Hangar Boosts Domestic Aviation Network
Buddha Air has invested significantly in Nepal’s aviation industry by constructing an aircraft maintenance hangar at the Tribhuvan International Airport. The company officially opened the facility on April 18, 2012. The maintenance hangar is one of the major infrastructure developments in Nepal’s aviation sector. The 37,000-square-foot maintenance hangar is valued at around US$2.5 million. Buddha Air announced that the maintenance hangar is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal as a Part 145 Aircraft Maintenance Organisation. The facility is engaged in providing maintenance and repair services of its own aircraft.
The maintenance hangar also provides repair services to other domestic and international aircraft. This suggests that the maintenance company owns the necessary infrastructure and staff to provide maintenance services to different aircraft models. Such services enable airlines to carry out maintenance, inspection, and certification activities. Having maintenance service facilities in Nepal enables some of the maintenance processes to take place locally. Besides the maintenance hangar, Buddha Air owns other maintenance facilities throughout Nepal.
29 Years of Connecting Nepal’s Domestic Airports and Tourism
Buddha Air has come a long way as it nears its 30 th anniversary. The company has had a significant impact on Nepal’s domestic aviation network as well as regional mountain tourism. With its high number of passengers, aircraft fleet, and destinations, Buddha Air is one of the busiest domestic airlines in Nepal. The airline has played a major role in connecting Nepal’s major cities and tourism destinations. It has also facilitated international tourism activities between Nepal and its neighboring countries. The company’s 29 th anniversary is a major milestone not only for the company but also for Nepal’s private aviation industry.
