Flyyeti.com to resume international operation soon

KATHMANDU, May 10: 

Yeti Airlines International is preparing to resume its international operation soon. The preparation comes after the airlines got its operating license renewed last week. 

“The airlines now can immediately go ahead with the operation as it has already obtained Airlines Operating Certificate (AOC) from Civil Aviation Authority Nepal,” senior official at Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) said. 

The company which was operating under the name of Fly Yeti.com suspended all flights after six months of operation from July 16, 2008 citing political reasons. The joint-venture company will now be operating independently. 

The airlines, however couldn´t resume the operation after the majority share owner Air Arabia took its share back along with two aircrafts without pre-notice. Fly Yeti.com was operating two Airbus A320 narrow-bodied aircrafts which were later redeployed to Sharjaha for Air Arabia. 

The airlines failed to renew its license following disputes with Air Arabia which was issued in 2006. “The dispute of assets and liabilities of two partners is supposed to be resolved as all the outstanding dues have been cleared,” the official said. The company had liabilities of around Rs 320 million to different countries and the government of Nepal. 

MoTCA had issued category ´B´ license for the airlines meaning it can operate 2.5 hours long flight. “The license can be upgraded to category ´A´ if it adds wide body aircraft,” the official said. The validity of renewed license was till the end of April, 2013.

Airlines have to renew their license every four years by paying route royalty. Route royalty is Rs 500,000 per route in international sector for the first time and Rs 250,000 at the time of renewal. 

The company has the permission to operate in 13 sectors, and was operating flights to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuala Lumpur and Sharjaha from Kathmandu before suspending the flights. The airlines paid the route royalty of Rs 3.25 million for the renewal, according to MoTCA officials.

Source: Republica