Asian Airlines

Not to be confused with AirAsia, Asia Airways, or Asiana Airlines.

"Asian airlines" redirects here. For a list of Asian airlines, see List of airlines of Asia.

Asian Airlines (also known as Asian Airlines Helicopter^[1]) was a helicopter airline based at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal founded by Ang Tshering Sherpa in 1993.^[4] It claims to be the first helicopter airline of Nepal.^[5] It ceased operations in 2006.^{[citation needed]}

Asian Airlines

IATA ICAO Call sign — — —
Founded	November 1993[1]
AOC #	004/96[2]
Hubs	Tribhuvan International Airport
Headquarters	Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal[3]

History

Asian Airlines was founded after the deregulation of the Nepalese aviation sector.^[6] According to Tashi Sherpa, managing director of Asian Airlines, the airline wanted to start fixed-wing operations but the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation urged the airlines to operate helicopters.^[6] The first flight of the airline was delayed, as the delivery of its first two helicopters was stuck at Jinnah International Airport for over a month, as Nepalese authorities were hesitant on allowing Russian-built aircraft in Nepal.^[4]

Fleet

The airline operated a fleet of MI-17 helicopters.^[7]

Accidents and incidents

• On 20 February 2002, during the Nepalese Civil War, members of the People's Liberation Army, Nepal destroyed a MI-17 belonging to Asian Airlines in Surkhet.^[8][9]
• ^[10][11]