--By Pinaki Roy

Major tourist destinations such as Pokhara, Bhairahawa, Lukla, Jomsom and Biratnagar among others have been experiencing increased air traffic in recent times. Industry analysts say that the services provided by various domestic airliners are primarily responsible for this lucrative situation. While most airline companies are growing in passenger numbers year-on-year, they have also contributed to the prospects of domestic tourism tremendously. 

 

While an estimated 40,000 tourists reach the Sagarmatha region annually, tourists leaving for Pokhara have been increasingly seeking air services. Even a remote destination like Simikot is now easily accessible to domestic as well as international travellers due to the presence of domestic airliners. These companies, needless to say, have played a major role in ensuring tourism development in a host of destinations in Nepal.

 

Domestic airline companies claim to have made a significant contribution towards identifying and popularising various destinations across the country. They also said destinations such as Dolpa, Humla and Lukla, that have no alternative to air travel, are enjoying increased tourist traffic courtesy of the domestic airliners. 

 

Private Airliners 

Domestic Aviation in the country, which started with Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) launching its service more than half a century ago, currently boasts of one-and-a-half-dozen airlines. The weak presence of the state-owned NAC has resulted in private sector airline companies enjoying 90 per cent of the market share. 

 

The presence of private companies is noteworthy both in urban and remote sectors within the country. Airline companies such as Tara Air, Goma Air, Kasthamandap Air, Sita Air and Makalu Air fly mainly to destinations in remote regions while Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Simrik Air largely cater to urban districts. 

 

Connecting remote districts

Private airline companies namely Goma Air, Sita Air, Kasthamandap Air and Makalu Air are currently preparing to expand their operations in remote districts. Makalu Air has recently added an aircraft to its fleet while others are also working towards expanding their services. Goma Air said that it plans to add two multi-engine Twin Otter aircrafts to make its services more effective in the remote sector. 

 

Similarly, Sita Air is planning to add two aircrafts to its fleet including a single-engine ‘Cessna Caravan’. Kasthamandap Air, which currently operates two aircrafts, revealed its plan of adding two Twin Otter aircraft to expand services in destinations of importance in the remote sector. 

 

 

Urban flights

Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines are the two leading airline companies that have been serving the urban sector continuously for the last one-and-a-half decades. The competition between these two giants of Nepali aviation is credited for the overall development of domestic aviation in the country. A total of 881,611 passengers boarded Buddha Air flights in 2012 helping it to garner 56 per cent of the total market share. 

 

The company says it actually enjoys 67 per cent of the market share if only private operators flying in urban districts are taken into consideration. Buddha Air’s fleet of nine aircrafts flies to 10 destinations and operates about 30 flights every day. The airline’s revenue figures top Rs 4 billion annually on account of flight operations.

 

Likewise, Yeti Airlines serves its patrons promising the by now popular tagline ‘Fly on Time’. As if to live up to its promise, over 90 per cent of Yeti’s flights are on time, the company claims. According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) statistics, the airline served 452,806 passengers in 2012. The airline operates one 30-seater and six 19-seater Jetstream aircrafts making a total of seven aircrafts operating 22 flights a day. 

 

Helicopter Services

There are five helicopter companies flying to remote districts in the country – Air Dynasty, Mountain Air, Simrik Air, Fishtail Air and Shree Airlines. Focusing on the remote sector, these companies provide charter services and also provide rescue services. Helicopter services in Nepal have been lauded for their important contribution in flying pilgrims to places of religious importance. These companies also hold expertise in organising mountain sightseeing excursions as well as providing emergency services in rural areas of Nepal. 

 

While the airline companies have made profits from operating flights to tourist destinations, they have been largely instrumental in serving domestic and international travellers with élan. Leading private operators like Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Simrik Air and Tara Air have expanded their services to tourist destinations in urban districts. However, they have been gradually reducing their presence in remote regions, aviation experts observe. 

 

Among the upcoming operators, Namaste Air has already started making preparations to enter the domestic aviation market in the near future.