Nepal's Yeti Airlines (YT, Kathmandu) has taken delivery of its first ATR72-500 – 9N-AMN (msn 876) – leased from Nordic Aviation Capital, the airline has announced. According to its press statement, the aircraft is the youngest FAA-approved, pressurized aircraft in Nepal's domestic fleet.
The aircraft will firstly be deployed on flights to Biratnagar and Nepalgunj airports. A second ATR72-500, also leased from NAC and expected soon, will be used on flights to Bhadrapur and Bhairahawa.
As previously reported, Yeti Airlines received government approval at the end of 2016 to acquire a total of four ATR72-500 aircraft which are intended to replace the domestic carrier's fleet of six Jetstream 41s. Competitor carrier Buddha Air (U4, Kathmandu) also operates ATR - Avions de Transport Régional aircraft, with four ATR72-500s and three ATR42-320s in active service.
