Shree Airlines (N9, Kathmandu) has taken delivery of its first Dash 8-400. Skyliner Aviation reports that 9N-ANE (msn 4145) was ferried from Tucson International to Toronto Pearson on August 7.
Formerly N419QX, the 13-year-old De Havilland Aircraft of Canada turboprop is the first of two ex-Horizon Air aircraft heading to the Nepali carrier, the other being 9N-ANF (msn 4147), formerly N420QX.
Shree Airlines currently operates two CRJ200s (of which one is active) and two CRJ700s on domestic Nepali flights connecting Kathmandu, Rajbiraj, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Dhangarhi, Bhairahawa/Bhairahawa, and Bhadrapur.
Earlier this week, The Himalaya Times newspaper said the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had given the carrier the greenlight to start chartered flights to Varanasi in India. However, Anil Manandhar, marketing manager of the airline company, said the actual start of service to India would depend on when Shree Airlines is able to secure its Indian certificates.
“We have finally received permission to operate flights to Varanasi after a long wait and it will definitely contribute to VNY 2020,” Manandhar said. “India is the largest market for the country’s tourism sector. So, 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. But for now CAAN has given permission for chartered flights only.”
