Buddha Air, a leader in Nepal's domestic aviation sector, is set to bring in a new generation ATR 72-600 aircraft this week to make its flight services more modern, environmentally friendly and commercially viable. 

Buddha Air is set to land the first modern ATR 72-600 series aircraft from Toulouse, France, in Kathmandu on Friday, said Birendra Bahadur Basnet, executive chairman of Buddha Air, after receiving the necessary 'ferry-flight' permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on 31 Ashad. Nepali aviation workers have called the arrival of the 70-seat ATR 72-600 series aircraft in Nepali skies not only an increase in the number of aircraft but also the beginning of a new era of technology in domestic aviation. 

In a span of about a month, Buddha is also bringing another ATR 72-600 aircraft from France to Kathmandu. Buddha has also received the Nepali registration number for the aircraft from the authority. The first ATR 72-600 aircraft (9N-AOS) is scheduled to land in Kathmandu on Friday from Toulouse, France via Egypt and Muscat, according to Executive Chairman Basnet. 

According to the license issued by the authority, the first aircraft is coming to Nepal under the command of foreign pilots (Captain Olivier Monthuel and Captain Samit Lachhkar). It is said that the second aircraft will be flown by Nepali pilots from Buddha Air. A group of Buddha Air pilots is being sent to France for training for the second aircraft this week. 

The ATR 72-600 aircraft is considered very effective for the geographical conditions of Nepal and the high temperatures of the Terai region, says Gyanendra Bhul, associate spokesperson of the authority. According to ATR, the ATR 72-600 consumes about 45 percent less fuel per flight compared to other jet and turboprop engine aircraft operating on domestic destinations. 

‘In a country like Nepal where aviation fuel prices are high, this will help airlines reduce their operating costs significantly,’ said Bhul, co-spokesperson. ‘It has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to other series and jet aircraft. So, it is environmentally safe even when it has to be held in the sky.’ 

Since Nepal’s air fare and fuel surcharge concept is set in the context of turboprop aircraft, it will be very difficult for Canadian jet aircraft to compete with the ATR 72-600, which has low fuel consumption and low operating costs, in the market, says a Buddha Air official. ‘This is good for both the commercial and environmental aspects of Nepali aviation,’ said Bhul. 

Buddha has a strategy to gradually replace the 16 old ATR 72-500 series aircraft it currently has with new 600 series aircraft, said Basnet, executive chairman of Buddha. The company has chosen this latest model with a capacity of 70 seats, which is about 12 years old, after the ATR 72-500 series aircraft, which are more than 15 years old, were no longer available in the international market due to Nepal's legal provisions. 

The first aircraft that Buddha is going to bring are aircraft that are currently flying in Brazil and the second are aircraft that are currently flying in Spain. Basnet said that the market price of the ATR 72-600 aircraft is around $12 to 13 million (more than Rs. 1 billion). If you buy a brand new aircraft directly from the factory, the market price of this aircraft is at least Rs. 3.5 billion. 

The biggest improvement in the ATR 72-600 is its state-of-the-art glass cockpit. It is equipped with a digital flight display, modern avionics system and advanced flight management system. This reduces the pilot's workload and increases the safety and operational efficiency of the flight.