Simrik Airlines

Simrik Airlines Pvt. Ltd. was an airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal operating domestic scheduled flights from its base at Tribhuvan International Airport.^[2][3][4] It was the partner company of Simrik Air, a Nepalese helicopter airline operating four helicopters.^[5] It ceased operations in 2021, when it was rebranded as Guna Airlines.^[6]

Simrik Airlines

IATA ICAO Call sign – RMK –
Founded	2009
Ceased operations	2021
AOC #	052/2009[1]
Hubs	Kathmandu
Fleet size	5
Destinations	3
Headquarters	Kathmandu, Nepal
Website	www.simrikairlines.com[usurped]

Simrik Airlines Beechcraft 1900 at Gautam Buddha Airport (March 2015)

History

Simrik Airlines Dornier 228 at Lukla Airport

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.^[7][8] 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.^[9] 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.^[10][11] 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.^[12]

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".^[13] One month later, the Civil Aviation Authority granted flight permission again.^[14]

In 2020, first reports appeared stating that Guna Airlines would be reestablished, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines.^[15] 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.^[6]

On 16 September 2021, operations of Guna Air began again with regular flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Bharatpur, discontinuing the brand Simrik Airlines.^[16]

Destinations

Simrik Airlines operated flights to the three destinations from Kathmandu Airport at the time of closure in 2021:^[17]

Destination	Airport	Notes
Bhairahawa	Gautam Buddha Airport	[18]
Bharatpur	Bharatpur Airport
Jomsom	Jomsom Airport	Terminated[12]
Kathmandu	Tribhuvan International Airport	Hub
Lukla	Tenzing-Hillary Airport	Terminated[12]
Pokhara	Pokhara Airport
Simara	Simara Airport	Terminated[19]
Simikot	Simikot Airport	Terminated[12]
Tumlingtar	Tumlingtar Airport	Terminated[20]

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.^[21]

Fleet

Simrik Airlines Beechcraft 1900 at Pokhara Airport (February 2013)

At the time of closure, Simrik Airlines operated the following aircraft:

Simrik Airlines fleet^[22]

Aircraft	In Fleet	Orders	Passengers			Notes
			C	Y	Total
Beechcraft 1900C	2	0	0	18	18	Acquired from Guna Airlines[8]
BAe Jetstream 41	3	0	0	29	29	Continuously Grounded[12][23]
Total	5	0

Simrik Airlines Former Fleet

Aircraft (in Fleet)	Introduction	Exit from service	Notes
Dornier 228 (2)	2013	2017	Leased from Agni Air, sold to Sita Air[12]

Accidents and incidents

• On April 10, 2015, the nose wheel tyre of the landing gear of a Simrik Airlines Dornier 228 was punctured upon landing at Lukla Airport. There were no casualties reported. The incident occurred at 10:00 am and the runway was reopened at 1:00 pm.^[24]