Shree Airlines adds Bombardier Dash 8- Q400 aircraft

Shree Airlines has added Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 aircraft – which it will operate on domestic flights – in its fleet. The turboprop manufactured by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada is the first of two aircraft Shree Airlines plans to induct into its fleet. According to the airlines, the second Dash 8-400 is expected to arrive after two weeks.
The 80-seater carrier from the Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier, landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 6:15 pm today, confirmed the airliner. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) – the regulatory authority of the aviation sector – has given a call sign of 9N-ANF to the aircraft.
The new type of aircraft – the two-engine regional turboprop aircraft – in the company's fleet has good performance,” informed the corporate manager of Shree Airlines Anil Manandhar. “Though its speed is comparatively less than Jet aircraft, its speed is better than ATR aircraft.”
“The aircraft will be used for flights to Pokhara, Janakpur and Simara,” the airliner said, adding that it is going to fly the new aircraft, where it has not been able to provide full-fledged services through Jet aircraft,” he said, expecting that the the arrival of the remaining two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 series airplanes within 15 days. “It had received permission from the CAAN to purchase the aircraft in 2018.”
Meanwhile, Shree Airlines has also recently received permission from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) to operate flights to five destinations including New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Banglore of India and Dhaka of Bangladesh. The airline plans to fly 50-seater CRJ 200 and 70-seater CRJ 700 for the international flights.
Likewise, the CAAN had also permitted Shree Airlines to operate chartered flights to to Varanasi of India six months ago. 

Shree Airlines to fly to India, Bangladesh

Shree Airlines is going to conduct international flights to India and Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has permitted Shree Airlines to operate flights to New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Banglore of India and Dhaka of Bangladesh.
Now, the airline will have to get permission from the aviation regulator body of Nepal – Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) – and airport authorities of India and Bangladesh to operate flights to their respective destinations.
“The airliner is soon going to start procedures related to documentation and taking slots in those destinations,” informed corporate head of Shree Airlines Anil Manandhar. “We believe that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will soon decide on providing air operator’s certificate (AOC),” he said, adding that it has been almost two years since the airline company had sought permission from the government to operate short-distance international flights. “We will operate flights as soon as we get go-ahead from the CAAN.”
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had permitted Shree Airlines to operate chartered flights to Varanasi in India.
After getting the permission, the private airlines successfully conducted a demonstration chartered flight to Varanasi, and formally applied for regular international services.
The ministry has granted permission to Shree Airlines to operate international flights using three of its CRJ-200 and CRJ-700 aircraft, as the airlines has completed the necessary process to operate scheduled flights ti India and Bangladesh.
Manandhar also claimed that the scheduled international flights of Shree Airlines is aimed at helping the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign. The airline plans to use 50-seater CRJ 200 and 70-seater CRJ 700 for the flights, he said, adding that Shree Airlines is also expecting the arrival of three Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 series aircraft. “It had received permission from the CAAN to purchase the aircraft in 2018.”
At present, Buddha Air had obtained permission to operate scheduled short-haul international flights to India.

Shree Airlines to fly to Varanasi

Shree Airlines is going to fly to Varanasi as the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has today permitted the airliner to operate chartered flights to Varanasi in India.
The airlines will now conduct a demonstration flight to Varanasi and take forth other procedures for regular operation, according to marketing manager of the airline Anil Manandhar. “The demonstration flight will be conducted on Monday with a 78-seat Bombardier CRJ 700 aircraft carrying representatives from CAAN and the airline company,” he said, adding that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will decide whether to provide air operator’s certificate (AOC) to the airlines after the demonstration flight.
Shree Airlines has been seeking permission from CAAN – since last one-and-a-half years – to operate short-distance international flights. “As we have received permission to operate flights to Varanasi, we hope to contribute to Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign through this flight,” Manandhar said, adding that India is the largest market for Nepal’s tourism sector. “We are aiming to carry more Indian tourists to Nepal.
“If we could operate scheduled flights then we will be able to bring more Indian tourists to the country,” he said, adding that the CAAN has, however, given permission for chartered flights only.
Currently, Buddha Air has been operating scheduled flights to Varanasi.
Shree Airlines plans to use three of its four aircraft – two 50-seat CRJ-200s and a 70-seat CRJ-700 – to conduct short-distance international chartered flights. Shree Airlines began its operation in 2002 as a helicopter service provider but launched fixed-wing air operations in August 2017. It has been operating scheduled domestic flights to Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Bhairahawa and Bhadrapur.

Industrialist Mittal passes away

Noted industrialist Banwari Lal Mittal passed away today morning at his residence in Gyaneshwor, following a protracted illness. He was 79.
He had returned to Kathmandu on Monday after getting treatment at Medant Hospital, Gurgaon in India. Mittal had been ill since last one month. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
Mittal served as the president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and Marwadi Sewa Samiti. NCC has condoled Mittal’s death, saying that he was an active member of chambers movement in Nepal. He led NCC in the 1990s. A leading figure in the Nepali chamber movement, Mittal was also the founder chairman of the Contractors Association of Nepal and a founder member of Nepal Eye Hospital. A man of high moral integrity, Mittal however, made a name for himself in the aviation sector.
Best known for pioneering commercial helicopter services in Nepal, Mittal had started Shree Airlines around 16 years ago. In the 1990s, Mittal ventured out of the family business and entered the aviation sector, establishing Air Ananya – that has been renamed as Shree Airlines offering pilgrimage tours in Manasarovar, Mt Kailash and Muktinath, later – with a fully-owned fleet of five MI-17 helicopters when the government launched a liberal aviation policy.
Transporting cargo and essential items like food and medicines to remote areas that lack road transportation, the carrier quickly established itself in the domestic aviation market.
Today, Shree Airlines is the largest helicopter operator in Nepal with a fleet of six 24-seat Russian-made MI-17 helicopters and four Eurocopter AS350 B3e helicopters. In 2010, Shree Airlines spread its wings outside Nepal, flying baggage and equipment for United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Africa, according to the airlines, that ha also condoled the demise of Mittal.
Involved in family-owned construction and textile businesses in the beginning, Mittal was also affiliated with various institutions like North Nepal Tea State and various social organisations.