Nepal’s Shree Airlines launches passenger jet service with CRJs

Nepal carrier Shree Airlines has launched commercial passenger jet service following its acquisition of three Bombardier CRJ Series aircraft. 

Bombardier said the airline commenced fixed-wing service with the first of two CRJ200s Aug. 11. Shree also acquired a CRJ700; all three aircraft were purchased from an unidentified third party. Shree plans to equip its CRJ700 with a six-seat business-class section.

Until now, Shree Airlines has primarily been a charter helicopter service, based in Kathmandu and incorporated in 1999. With the introduction of the CRJs, the airline is expanding into commercial passenger service, operating between Nepal’s capital city and regional destinations Bhadrapur, Bhairawaha, Dhangadi, Biratnagar and Nepalgunj.

“We are continuously looking for optimal solutions to address the increasing transportation demands in Nepal, and the launch of our new regional jet service with the CRJ200 and CRJ700 aircraft represents a significant milestone in our growth journey,” Shree Airlines corporate manager Anil Manandhar said. “The CRJ Series aircraft will allow us to improve domestic transportation, and will be a key asset in helping Shree Airlines expands its operations to the regional markets in the future.”

“The CRJ Series aircraft have been instrumental in revolutionizing regional route networks,” Bombardier commercial aircraft VP-asset management David Speirs said. “We are confident that Shree Airlines will achieve much success as it launches fixed-wing operations in the regions of Nepal with two CRJ200 aircraft and one CRJ700 aircraft.”

Other new regional startups utilizing CRJs this year include South Korea’s Air Pohang, set to launch before the end of the year, and India’s Zoom Air, which began service in February.