Buddha Air, Nepal’s leading private airline, retired its ATR-72 aircraft (call sign 9N-AJO) on Thursday, March 12, after completion of its operational life.
The ATR-72 has a maximum operational capacity of around 72,000 flight cycles. In aviation terms, a “cycle” refers to one take-off followed by one landing.
The aircraft had been operating commercial flights since July 2, 2010. Its final flight was conducted on March 9, 2026, from Bhairahawa to Kathmandu.
During its 16 years of service, the aircraft carried nearly 2.5 million passengers, according to Buddha Air.
Buddha Air Executive Chairman Birendra Bahadur Basnet said the aircraft had played an important role in expanding the airline’s market and strengthening its reputation.
Stefano Marazzani, Senior Vice President of Customer Support and Services at ATR, said the aircraft was able to serve safely until its final flight thanks to skilled personnel, a proper operating environment and strong technical systems.
Buddha Air had earlier retired an ATR-42 aircraft on September 10, 2024.
The airline currently operates domestic flights across Nepal, including direct services from Pokhara to Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa and Bharatpur. Internationally, it also runs flights to Varanasi and Kolkata in India.
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