Simrik Airlines


Simrik Airlines Pvt. Ltd. was an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal operating domestic scheduled flights from its base at Tribhuvan International Airport. It was the partner company of Simrik Air, a Nepalese helicopter airline operating four helicopters. It ceased operations in 2021, when it was rebranded as Guna Airlines.

History

The airline was founded in 2009 from the remainders of ill-fated Guna Airlines, which it acquired for NRs 350 million, after latter ceased trading due to financial difficulties. Simrik Airlines used the Brand of Guna for some more time before renaming and repainting the two Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, that were previously operated by Guna Airlines. On 23 October 2013, Simrik Airlines signed a contract with Agni Air leasing five aircraft of Agni Air, three BAe Jetstream 41 and two Dornier 228, after the airline's planes had been grounded since mid-November 2012, as the airline was affected by severe debts. After selling the two Dornier 228s in mid-2017, Simrik Airlines was left with only two functioning planes, as the Jetstream planes of former Agni Air continued to be grounded.
In August 2019, Simrik Airlines was forced to halt operations by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, who found that the airline was using "substandard spare parts". One month later, the Civil Aviation Authority granted flight permission again.
In 2020, first reports appeared stating that Guna Airlines would be reestablished, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines. In early 2021, the airline announced that it would buy five BAe Jetstream 41 from Yeti Airlines to restart operation under the brand name Guna Airlines, discontinuing Simrik Airlines.
On 16 September 2021, operations of Guna Air began again with regular flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Bharatpur, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines.

Destinations

Simrik Airlines operated flights to the three destinations from Kathmandu Airport at the time of closure in 2021:
DestinationAirportNotes
BhairahawaGautam Buddha Airport
BharatpurBharatpur Airport
JomsomJomsom Airport
KathmanduTribhuvan International Airport
LuklaTenzing-Hillary Airport
PokharaPokhara Airport
SimaraSimara Airport
SimikotSimikot Airport
TumlingtarTumlingtar Airport

The airline also offered daily sightseeing mountain flights from Kathmandu. The flights departed in the early morning hours and returned to the airport one hour later.

Fleet

At the time of closure, Simrik Airlines operated the following aircraft:
Aircraft IntroductionExit from serviceNotes
Dornier 228 20132017Leased from Agni Air, sold to Sita Air

Accidents and incidents