China-Nepal joint venture Himalaya Airlines takes delivery of Airbus

Himalaya Airlines, a China-Nepal joint-venture company, took delivery of brand new Airbus A320 aircraft on Wednesday aiming to start international flight from next month.

It will be the third Nepalese airlines to serve the international market after Nepal Airlines and Buddha Air.

The 158-seated new aircraft, with the registration number 9N-ALM, received a water cannon salute upon its arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu adopting the tradition in the aviation industry. To mark the show, a ferry team was welcomed by Nepal's Army Band.

The aircraft was delivered to Kathmandu from Chengdu, China and was taken on a lease from a Chinese company, according to company officials.

The airline plans to operate its international flights from April directly to Delhi and Doha on a daily basis to provide convenient travel connections, a press release of the company said. Himalaya will be the sixth airline to operate on the Kathmandu-Delhi flight after Nepal Airlines, Jet Airways, Air India, Druk Air and IndiGo.

"This marks the opening of a new chapter of commercial aviation in Nepal and we are confident that Himalaya Airlines will also contribute to attaining the country's objective to promote tourism sector,"the statement reads.

Tibet Airlines owns 49 percent in the company while Nepal's Himalayan Infrastructure Fund Aviation Investment and Yeti World Investment hold a 51 percent stake. The company has a paid-up capital of 25 million U.S. dollars. It is the biggest foreign direct investment from China in Nepal's aviation sector. Endit