Guna Airlines to resume operation from Thursday

KATHMANDU, June 6: 

Guna Airlines, which had suspended operation on March 11 due to technical glitches in its three aircraft, will be back in the sky from Thursday.

“We are all set to resume operation from June 7,” Rajendra Shakya, executive chairman of the airline, said. He said engines of all the aircraft have been overhauled and that the aircraft are now ready for operation. Shakya further said they couldn´t bring the aircraft into operation in April as planned earlier because of the delay in delivery of spare parts. 

The company will initially bring two of its three Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. It is planning to acquire a new 50-seater aircraft. The airline plans to expand its network and increase frequency in existing destinations once the new aircraft is pressed into service.

“Our primary target will be to increase our market share,” an official of Guna Airlines said.

Before suspending its flights, the airline was operating 16 flights a day to five different destinations. It was operating five flights a day to Pokhara, two each to Biratnagar and Simra and one to Bhirahawa. It was also operating six mountain flights a day.

According to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the airline flew 95,503 passengers in 2011, down from 96,000 recorded in 2010.

Guna Airlines started operation on May 19, 2009 by procuring aircraft from domestic carrier Buddha Air. It is owned by Guna Group -- a business conglomerate that also promotes Guna Co-Operative, Guna Cinema and Guna Colony, among others.

Meanwhile, the airline has appointed Ghanashyam Acharya to the post of executive director of the airline. Prior to his promotion, Acharya was working as chief strategic officer at the airline.

Source: Republica