Goma Air to acquire three multi-engine aircraft

KATHMANDU, March 28: Goma Air, the private domestic air has unveiled its plan to acquire three multi-engine aircraft. The Surkhet based airlines received permission to operate additional three planes on Wednesday. Fleet expansion permission is the basic requirement for operators to procure aircrafts.



Managing Director of Goma Air, Manoj Karki said the airlines was acquiring two multi-engine aircrafts by the end of next fiscal year and would add another later. [break]



“ Some informal negotiations has already begun, and with the formal permission from the government we will speed up the process,” he said.



Until now the airlines had permission to operate only three single engine aircraft. Single-engine aircraft are considered suitable for any type of terrain and short destinations.



The airlines which came into operation about a year ago is operating scheduled passenger, chartered and cargo service in Mid-Western and Far-Western region through its two nine-seater Cessna Caravan aircraft. Based in Surkhet, the operator serves Karnali, Jumla, Humla, Dola, Rolpa in mid-western and Bajura in Far-Western.



The airlines has its sub-base at Nepalgunj and also offers occasional flights to Bajang and Rukum.



With the permission of multi-engine, the airlines can start its operation to other STOL (short take-off and landing) route apart from the regular destination. According to an official at the Tourism Ministry, the airlines will have to expand its destinations beyond Mid and Far- Western Region as the operational cost of muti-engine aircrafts was higher.



Suresh Acharya, joint-secretary at MoTCA said that the government was positive about adding the flight in rural sector. “We are encouraging operators to fly to rural district as the frequency in these areas is still very low,” he said. “The airlines can operate into any STOL route but it will have to apply for the permission and pay royalty,” he said.



The operator has to pay Rs 20,000 per route as royalty on annual basis to operate theSTOL flight.



Karki said that they hadn´t planned anything on expanding the sector till now. “Our focus will continue on Mid-Western and Far-Western region at present and we will plan about additional destinations after acquiring three aircraft,” added Karki.

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