Buddha Air’s new ATR 72-600 begins commercial operations

Kathmandu, September 4

Private airline Buddha Air’s new-series ATR 72-600 aircraft began commercial operations on Friday.

The aircraft, registered as 9N-AOS, made its first commercial flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj on Friday morning. Carrying 66 passengers, the aircraft departed Kathmandu for Nepalgunj at 8:06 am.

Buddha Air brought the aircraft to Nepal from Toulouse, France, on July 25, 2026. It took about a month to complete the necessary technical and regulatory procedures as well as repainting.

According to the airline, the ATR 72-600 is equipped with a fully glass cockpit, modern navigation systems, digital flight management and advanced safety systems.

The aircraft, designed for regional flights, is considered more environmentally friendly because it consumes comparatively less fuel. It is also equipped with an RNP-AR navigation system, which facilitates flight operations and landings in low-visibility conditions while meeting the required standards and procedures.

The company said the aircraft has larger passenger seats and overhead bins than those in its previous-generation aircraft. Its improved cabin design also significantly reduces cabin noise compared with the earlier series, according to the company.

Buddha Air is preparing to add another ATR 72-600 aircraft to its fleet in the near future. The airline currently operates 14 ATR 72-500s and one ATR 72-600.

The company recently retired two ATR 42-320 aircraft from service. It also sold another ATR 42-320, which had relatively few flight cycles, to an aircraft company in Europe for parts.

Buddha Air said it added the new-series aircraft to its fleet as part of its commitment to making air travel more convenient and efficient. The airline said the addition would help strengthen its flight operations and maintenance schedules.

Buddha Air currently operates more than 140 domestic flights and landings each day. Internationally, it operates flights from Kathmandu to Varanasi, India, three days a week and to Kolkata four days a week. It also operates flights from Pokhara to Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj.

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