Buddha Air’s ATR-42 aircraft, registration ‘9N-AIN’, has officially retired after 16 years of service in Nepali skies. The retirement ceremony took place at Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday, marking the end of an era for the aircraft that played a pivotal role in the airline’s history.
Birendra Bahadur Basnet, Executive Chair of Buddha Air, delivered an emotional farewell speech during the ceremony. “We are bidding farewell to this aircraft, which has achieved a significant milestone by completing 70,000 cycles through commercial passenger operations,” Basnet said. He praised the airline’s technical and operational team, emphasizing that their standards of maintenance and flight operations are comparable to those in developed countries.
Buddha Air initially introduced two ATR-42 aircraft in 2008 as part of its expansion efforts. Today, the airline boasts the largest fleet in Nepal, consisting of 18 ATR aircraft. This fleet includes three ATR-42 aircraft with 47 seats and 15 ATR aircraft with 70 seats.
During its 16 years of service, the retiring ATR-42 ‘9N-AIN’ transported approximately 1.8 million passengers across 44,477 flights. The aircraft, which had a seating capacity of 45, will now see its outer components handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The internal parts will be repurposed for the maintenance and repair of other aircraft in the fleet.
Buddha Air’s commitment to maintaining a modern and efficient fleet continues as the airline moves forward with its operations, ensuring the highest standards of safety and service for its passengers.
