Simrik Airlines
| |||||||
Founded | 2009 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ceased operations | 2021 | ||||||
AOC # | 052/2009[1] | ||||||
Hubs | Kathmandu | ||||||
Fleet size | 5 | ||||||
Destinations | 3 | ||||||
Headquarters | Kathmandu, Nepal | ||||||
Website | www.simrikairlines.com[usurped] |
Simrik Airlines Pvt. Ltd. was an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal operating domestic scheduled flights from its base at Tribhuvan International Airport.[2][3][4] It was the partner company of Simrik Air, a Nepalese helicopter airline operating four helicopters.[5] It ceased operations in 2021, when it was rebranded as Guna Airlines.[6]
History
[edit]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.[7][8] 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.[9] On 23 October 2013, Simrik Airlines signed a contract with Agni Air leasing five aircraft of Agni Air, three BAe Jetstream 41 and two Dornier 228, after the airline's planes had been grounded since mid-November 2012, as the airline was affected by severe debts.[10][11] After selling the two Dornier 228s in mid-2017, Simrik Airlines was left with only two functioning planes, as the Jetstream planes of former Agni Air continued to be grounded.[12]
In August 2019, Simrik Airlines was forced to halt operations by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, who found that the airline was using "substandard spare parts".[13] One month later, the Civil Aviation Authority granted flight permission again.[14]
In 2020, first reports appeared stating that Guna Airlines would be reestablished, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines.[15] In early 2021, the airline announced that it would buy five BAe Jetstream 41 from Yeti Airlines to restart operation under the brand name Guna Airlines, discontinuing Simrik Airlines.[6]
On 16 September 2021, operations of Guna Air began again with regular flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Bharatpur, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines.[16]
Destinations
[edit]Simrik Airlines operated flights to the three destinations from Kathmandu Airport at the time of closure in 2021:[17]
Destination | Airport | Notes |
---|---|---|
Bhairahawa | Gautam Buddha Airport | [18] |
Bharatpur | Bharatpur Airport | |
Jomsom | Jomsom Airport | Terminated[12] |
Kathmandu | Tribhuvan International Airport | Hub |
Lukla | Tenzing-Hillary Airport | Terminated[12] |
Pokhara | Pokhara Airport | |
Simara | Simara Airport | Terminated[19] |
Simikot | Simikot Airport | Terminated[12] |
Tumlingtar | Tumlingtar Airport | Terminated[20] |
The airline also offered daily sightseeing mountain flights from Kathmandu. The flights departed in the early morning hours and returned to the airport one hour later.[21]
Fleet
[edit]At the time of closure, Simrik Airlines operated the following aircraft:
Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Y | Total | ||||
Beechcraft 1900C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 | Acquired from Guna Airlines[8] |
BAe Jetstream 41 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 29 | Continuously Grounded[12][23] |
Total | 5 | 0 |
Aircraft (in Fleet) | Introduction | Exit from service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Dornier 228 (2) | 2013 | 2017 | Leased from Agni Air, sold to Sita Air[12] |
Accidents and incidents
[edit]- On April 10, 2015, the nose wheel tyre of the landing gear of a Simrik Airlines Dornier 228 was punctured upon landing at Lukla Airport. There were no casualties reported. The incident occurred at 10:00 am and the runway was reopened at 1:00 pm.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "यतिसँग खरिद गरेका जे ४१ जेटस्ट्रिम जहाजलाई उडान भर्न गुण एयरलाइन्सलाई अनुमति" (in Nepali). News 24 Nepal. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "About Us". Simirk Airlines. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b 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". Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
- ^ a b c d e f "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.
- ^ "Guna Airlines to operate its service again on Nepal Sky". Aviation Nepal. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Guna Airlines to start flights from Thursday". Online Khabar. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Flight Schedule". Simrik Airlines. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "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.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "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. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Beechcraft 1900". Simrik Airlines. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Simrik Airlines to fly Agni's planes". Ekantipur. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ Today- Lukla Airport shut down for Three Hours Retrieved 10 April 2015.
External links
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