Shree Airlines
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_Taking_off_from_Tribhuvan_International_Airport_(TIA)-070A2297.jpg) Shree Airlines De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 aircraft - (9N-ANE) Ready to Take off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) | |||||||
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| Founded | 1999 | ||||||
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| AOC # | 030/2002[2] | ||||||
| Hubs | Tribhuvan International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | High Flyer Club | ||||||
| Fleet size | 11 | ||||||
| Destinations | 7 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal | ||||||
| Key people | Sudhir Mittal (chairman) [3] | ||||||
| Website | www.shreeairlines.com | ||||||
Shree Airlines Pvt. Ltd. (Nepali: श्री एयरलाइन्स) is an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal. It operates domestic services within Nepal, including chartered helicopter flights. The airline also provides charter flights and air ambulance services to international destinations.[4][5] As of 2024, Shree Airlines is the third-largest domestic carrier in Nepal by passengers carried and the second-largest by fleet size.[6][7] All air carriers certified by the authorities responsible for regulatory oversight of Nepal, including Shree Airlines, are banned from operating in the European Union.[8]
History
The airline was founded by Banwari Lal Mittal in the 1990s and was originally incorporated as Air Ananya, named after the founder's granddaughter, Ananya Mittal.[9]
Previously known as Shree Air, it became the largest operator of helicopters in Nepal with a fleet of Mi-17 helicopters. In 2016, the airline diversified into fixed-wing operations by acquiring three jets, with plans to operate scheduled domestic flights from Tribhuvan International Airport. As part of its NPR 2 billion expansion project, these services were launched under the brand name Shree Airlines[10][9]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, Shree Airlines operated charter flights to Singapore, marking the airline's debut in international services.[11]
Services
Humanitarian and UN peacekeeping flights
Shree Airlines has operated helicopter flights for the World Food Programme and the Nepal Food Corporation. These flights delivered food to remote and hard-to-reach areas of Nepal. The airline has delivered more than 8,000,000 kilograms of food to the Nepalese population.[12]
It also operated long-term charter flights for the United Nations in support of peacekeeping operations in Uganda from 2008 to 2014. The contract was cancelled after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) attached a "significant safety concern" label to all Nepalese airlines. Following the cancellation, four Mi-17 helicopters were left in Uganda, as the airline did not find it viable to return them to Nepal. As of September 2016, two helicopters remain in Africa, while the other two are undergoing overhaul.[9]
Religious tourism
Shree Airlines operates helicopter flights to Hilsa in north-west Nepal, located near the northern border, which serves as the starting point for the Mansarovar and Mount Kailash pilgrimage. The airline also provides charter flights to Muktinath, a popular pilgrimage destination in central Nepal.[13]
Destinations
As of June 2024, Shree Airlines operates scheduled domestic flights to the following destinations:
Fleet
The Shree Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[14]
| Aircraft model | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Bombardier CRJ200ER | 2 | — | — | 50 | 50 | |
| Bombardier CRJ700 | 2 | — | — | 70 | 70 | |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 7 | — | 12 | 68 | 80 | |
| Total | 11 | — | ||||
| Helicopter model | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Mil Mi-17 | 6 | — | — | 24 | 24 | Four positioned in Uganda after serving in a UN mission.[15] |
| Eurocopter AS350 B3e | 2 | — | — | 5 | 5 | |
| Total | 8 | — | ||||
Accidents and incidents
- On 23 September 2006, a Shree Airlines Mil Mi-8 helicopter, operating on a chartered mission to Kathmandu, crashed shortly after departing from Ghunsa, Taplejung. All four crew members and 20 passengers were killed in the crash. The victims included several senior officials of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Nepalese Government officials Gopal Rai and Harka Gurung, and conservationist Chandra Gurung.[16][17]
- On 2 February 2018, a Shree Airlines Bombardier CRJ200ER was involved in a minor incident at Gautam Buddha Airport, Bhairahawa. The aircraft's wing tip was damaged after it came into contact with the wing of a Yeti Airlines Jetstream 41 at the airport's parking bay.[18]
- On 5 October 2021, a Shree Airlines Bombardier Dash 8, preparing for departure to Nepalgunj, skidded off the taxiway in the parking area at Kathmandu. According to Kathmandu Airport authorities, no injuries occurred and the aircraft sustained no damage. The flight departed for Nepalgunj a few hours later.
- On 10 March 2023, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal temporarily grounded the entire fleet of Shree Airlines. The decision came a day after an engine fire occurred mid-flight on one of the airline's Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, forcing it to return to Kathmandu.
Sponsorships
Shree Airlines is an active sponsor of sports and events. It co-sponsored the 2018 Dhangadhi Premier League[19] and has been sponsoring the Biratnagar Kings cricket team since 2019.[20] The airline also sponsored the 2019 SAFF Women's Championship in football.[21]
References
- ^ "Airline and Airport Codes". IATA. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Civil Aviation Report 2017" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ Company profile of shree air (PDF) (Report). Icranepal.
- ^ "Shree Airlines CRJ preparing for free charter flight to Singapore". Aviation Nepal. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "SDr Bhandari taken to India for further treatment". online radio nepal. Retrieved 16 Feb 2023.
- ^ Prasain, Sangam (24 February 2023). "Domestic air traffic soars, hits a record 4.46m flyers". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "श्री एयरलाइन्सले थप्यो ८० सिट क्षमताको अर्को विमान". bizpati.com. 22 June 2024.
- ^ "The EU Air Safety List - European Commission". transport.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ^ a b c Prasain, Sangam (2 September 2016). "Shree Airlines to diversify into fixed-wing operations". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ "Shree Airlines gets 2nd Bombardier jet". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ "Shree Airlines CRJ preparing for free charter flight to Singapore". Aviation Nepal. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Shree Airlines Joins Bombardier's Family of CRJ Series Aircraft Operators". Market Wired. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Religious Tour". Shree Airlines. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "श्री एयरलाइन्सले थप्यो ८० सिटको जहाज, अब श्रीसँग ११ जहाज र ८ हेलिकोप्टर".
- ^ "Shree seeks govt help revive charter deal". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "A conservation catastrophe for Nepal". BBC. 2006-09-25. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ "Teams recover Nepal crash bodies". BBC. 2006-09-27. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ "Shree Airlines' CRJ200 and Yeti Airlines' had a minor collision at Gautam Buddha Airport". Aviation Nepal. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "Shree Airlines join hands with DPL-2". The Kathmandu Post. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Biratnagar Kings ink title sponsorship deal". The Kathmandu Post. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "ANFA Signs A Deal With Shree Airlines For SAFF Women's Championship 2019". Goal Nepal. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
External links
Media related to Shree Airlines at Wikimedia Commons