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Simrik Airlines

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Simrik Airlines
IATA ICAO Call sign
– RMK –
Founded2009
Ceased operations2021
AOC #052/2009[1]
HubsKathmandu
Fleet size5
Destinations3
HeadquartersKathmandu, Nepal
Websitewww.simrikairlines.com[usurped]
Simrik Airlines Beechcraft 1900 at Gautam Buddha Airport (March 2015)

Simrik Airlines Pvt. Ltd. was an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal operating domestic scheduled flights from its base at Tribhuvan International Airport.[2][3][4] It was the partner company of Simrik Air, a Nepalese helicopter airline operating four helicopters.[5] It ceased operations in 2021, when it was rebranded as Guna Airlines.[6]

History

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Simrik Airlines Dornier 228 at Lukla Airport

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.[7][8] 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.[9] On 23 October 2013, Simrik Airlines signed a contract with Agni Air leasing five aircraft of Agni Air, three BAe Jetstream 41 and two Dornier 228, after the airline's planes had been grounded since mid-November 2012, as the airline was affected by severe debts.[10][11] After selling the two Dornier 228s in mid-2017, Simrik Airlines was left with only two functioning planes, as the Jetstream planes of former Agni Air continued to be grounded.[12]

In August 2019, Simrik Airlines was forced to halt operations by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, who found that the airline was using "substandard spare parts".[13] One month later, the Civil Aviation Authority granted flight permission again.[14]

In 2020, first reports appeared stating that Guna Airlines would be reestablished, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines.[15] In early 2021, the airline announced that it would buy five BAe Jetstream 41 from Yeti Airlines to restart operation under the brand name Guna Airlines, discontinuing Simrik Airlines.[6]

On 16 September 2021, operations of Guna Air began again with regular flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Bharatpur, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines.[16]

Destinations

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Simrik Airlines operated flights to the three destinations from Kathmandu Airport at the time of closure in 2021:[17]

Destination Airport Notes
Bhairahawa Gautam Buddha Airport [18]
Bharatpur Bharatpur Airport
Jomsom Jomsom Airport Terminated[12]
Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport Hub
Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport Terminated[12]
Pokhara Pokhara Airport
Simara Simara Airport Terminated[19]
Simikot Simikot Airport Terminated[12]
Tumlingtar Tumlingtar Airport Terminated[20]

The airline also offered daily sightseeing mountain flights from Kathmandu. The flights departed in the early morning hours and returned to the airport one hour later.[21]

Fleet

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Simrik Airlines Beechcraft 1900 at Pokhara Airport (February 2013)

At the time of closure, Simrik Airlines operated the following aircraft:

Simrik Airlines fleet[22]
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Beechcraft 1900C 2 0 0 18 18 Acquired from Guna Airlines[8]
BAe Jetstream 41 3 0 0 29 29 Continuously Grounded[12][23]
Total 5 0
Simrik Airlines Former Fleet
Aircraft (in Fleet) Introduction Exit from service Notes
Dornier 228 (2) 2013 2017 Leased from Agni Air, sold to Sita Air[12]

Accidents and incidents

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  • On April 10, 2015, the nose wheel tyre of the landing gear of a Simrik Airlines Dornier 228 was punctured upon landing at Lukla Airport. There were no casualties reported. The incident occurred at 10:00 am and the runway was reopened at 1:00 pm.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Civil Aviation Report 2017" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Simrik Airlines, Mountain Flights in Nepal - Over Everest, Fly High on Himalayas operated by Sworna Travels & Tours, KTM, Nepal". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Simrik Airlines domestic flights, Kathmandu Pokhara, Kathmandu Simara, Mountain Flight, Pokhara Kathmandu, Bhairahawa Kathmandu". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Simrik Air officially starts commercial flights". The Himalayan Times. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Simrik Fix Wing Partner". Simrik Air. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b "यतिसँग खरिद गरेका जे ४१ जेटस्ट्रिम जहाजलाई उडान भर्न गुण एयरलाइन्सलाई अनुमति" (in Nepali). News 24 Nepal. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  7. ^ "About Us". Simirk Airlines. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  8. ^ a b Sunir Pandey. "High costs, low fares - Nation - Nepali Times". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Simrik Air takes over Guna Airlines". República. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Simrik Air leases entire fleet of Agni Air". Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Simrik Airlines to fly Agni's planes". Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Simrik Airlines left with fewer flights". Aviation Nepal. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Suspension on Simrik Airlines' flights continues". The Himalayan Times. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  14. ^ "CAAN permits Simrik Airlines to resume its flights". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Guna Airlines to operate its service again on Nepal Sky". Aviation Nepal. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Guna Airlines to start flights from Thursday". Online Khabar. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Flight Schedule". Simrik Airlines. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Fly directly from Pokhara to Lumbini - Nepflights". Nepflights.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  19. ^ "Flight Schedule". Simrik Airlines. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Simrik Airlines (सिम्रिक एयरलाइन्स) to commence regular flights to Bharatpur and Tumlingtar". Aviation Nepal. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Mountain Flight". Simrik Airlines. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Beechcraft 1900". Simrik Airlines. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Simrik Airlines to fly Agni's planes". Ekantipur. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  24. ^ Today- Lukla Airport shut down for Three Hours Retrieved 10 April 2015.
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