Simrik Airlines
Simrik Airlines Pvt. Ltd. is an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal operating domestic scheduled flights from its base at Tribhuvan International Airport. It is the partner company of Simrik Air, a Nepalese helicopter airline currently operating four helicopters.
History
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. 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. On 23 October 2013, Simrik Airlines signed a contract with Agni Air leasing out five aircraft of Agni Air, two BAe Jetstream 41 and three Dornier Do 228, after Agni had been grounded since mid-November 2012 crippled by massive debts. After selling the two Dornier 228s in mid-2017, the airline is left with only two functioning planes, as the Jetstream planes of former Agni Air are still grounded.In August 2019, Simrik Airlines was grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal who found that the airline was using "substandard spare parts". One month later, the Civil Aviation Authority granted flight permission again.
Destinations
Simrik Airlines flies to the following destinations as of March 2019:Destination | Airport | Notes |
Bhairahawa | Gautam Buddha Airport | |
Bharatpur | Bharatpur Airport | |
Jomsom | Jomsom Airport | |
Kathmandu | Tribhuvan International Airport | |
Lukla | Tenzing-Hillary Airport | |
Pokhara | Pokhara Airport | |
Simara | Simara Airport | |
Simikot | Simikot Airport | |
Tumlingtar | Tumlingtar Airport |
The airline also offers daily sightseeing mountain flights from Kathmandu. The flights depart in the early morning hours and return to the airport one hour later.
Fleet
Aircraft | Introduction | Exit from service | Notes |
Dornier 228 | 2013 | 2017 | Leased from Agni Air, sold to Sita Air |
Accidents and incidents
- On April 10, 2015, the nose wheel tyre of the landing gear of a Simrik Airlines Dornier 228 was punctured. There were no casualties reported. The incident occurred at 10:00 AM and the runway was reopened at 1:00 PM.