Buddha Air acquiring ATR 72-500 series aircraft, expanding fleet to 18

KATHMANDU, June 25: Private airline company Buddha Air is preparing to increase its fleet size by bringing in an ATR 72-500 series aircraft. This addition will take the total number of Buddha Air's aircraft to 18.

An employee of the company mentioned that they are set to add the ATR 72-500 series aircraft this week. "We are set to expand the number of aircraft according to our business plan. Currently, there is a shortage of this series of aircraft in the global market," he said. "The aircraft is scheduled to take off from Toulouse, France, either today or tomorrow." He added that the aircraft will arrive in Kathmandu by Saturday.

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Currently, Buddha Air operates flights to various domestic destinations and claims to hold about a 60 percent market share in those routes. The company currently has three ATR-42 and fourteen ATR-72 series aircraft in service, totaling 17 aircraft.

In addition to domestic flights, Buddha Air operates international flights between Kathmandu and Varanasi twice a week.