Wikipedia

Simrik Airlines

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]

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)

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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