Friday, October 7, 2016

Himalaya Airlines to start regular flights to Yangon

Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture between Nepal and China, is planning to start direct flights from Kathmandu to Burma soon. The airline is planning to start the Kathmandu-Yangon flight by December.
Currently, around half million Nepali-speaking people live in Burma.
If domestic preparations and permit process goes as planned, the company will start operating flights from December, , according to an official from the airline. "This will help promote tourism industry in Nepal."
According to him, Yu Lu Bin, Myanmar ambassador to Nepal and vice-president of Himalaya Airlines Bijaya Shrestha recently discussed about the flight. "The company is ready for Kathmandu-Yangon flight,” the official said, adding that new aircraft would be added for direct flights.
Two weeks earlier, Ambassador Yu had said he would urge minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Bahadur Shahi to take the initiation for operating direct flights between the two countries.
Nepalis going to Burma for meditation and to be monk and Burmese coming to visit Lumbini are expected to be immensely benefited after direct flights come into operation.
Earlier, the airline had successfully launched its maiden flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 1 carrying passengers directly to the destination.
The direct flight to Colombo that resumed after almost three decades flies twice a week, according to Shrestha. "We consider this to be another milestone for us as this will make Himalaya Airlines the only airline with scheduled flights to Colombo from Kathmandu,” he said, adding that the company anticipates that majority of the passengers will be businessmen and tourists from the two countries.
Himalaya’s third destination will be India’s capital New Delhi, according to the company.
The airline is preparing to fly to Delhi from October 30.
Himalaya Airlines, a full-service carrier, was established in August 2014. It had started scheduled flights from May 31, flying directly to Doha, Qatar. Apart from the opening of the Kathmandu/Colombo/Kathmandu route, the airline plans to operate regular flights to other destinations: Delhi, Yangon, Dammam, Beijing, Lhasa, Chengdu, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Dubai.
The airline currently uses 158 seat capacity aircraft A320-214 series for its flight.
HIF Aviation Investment and Yeti World Investment Pvt Ltd have invested on Himalaya Airlines that has got permission to fly to 14 countries. Nepali company has 51.01 percent and Tibet Airlines has 48.99 percent investment in Himalaya Airlines.

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