Nepal Airlines was earlier known as Royal Nepal Airlines. This is the Nepal state airline having its main base at Kathmandu, the Tribhuvan International Airport.
This air service initiated in 1953 and in 1958 established its individual airline in the name Royal Nepal Airlines. It initiated its operations with Douglas DC-3 aircraft and its regional services include Pokhara, Simara and Biratnagar.
Royal Nepal airline flights to international destinations included Delhi, Kolkatta and Patna, the Indian cities making it one of the most preferred international airlines in India.
This airline operates over 7 internationals and 30 domestic routes. In fact, the tourism industry was boosted owing to the introduction of air travel as it was impossible to access by road or rail being a mountainous terrain.
In 1960s, the Royal Nepal airline began expanding its network and fleet.
It acquired turboprop Fokker F-27s, Pilateus Porter and Twin Otter in 1970s that facilitated easy access to remote and mountainous regions in Nepal. It also purchased turboprops Hawker Siddeley HS-748 and Boeing 727 jet airliners.
The Kathmandu airport runway was expanded in 1972 and this airline purchased Boeing 727 aircrafts, and later over the time was gradually replaced with Boeing 757s.
The Nepal Government in 2003-2004 sold 49% share to private sector and retained the balance shares.
In July 1958, this airline initiated its operations restricting to Pokhara, Biratnagar, Simara and Indian cities such as Kolkatta, Patna and Delhi.
The Pilateus Porter and Twin Otter, 1970 aircrafts were added and in 1972, the Kathmandu runway was extended and Boeing 727 and Hawker Siddeley HS-748 were acquired replacing Boeing 757s.
This airline maintains international branches in Shanghai, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Frankfurt, Bangkok, Kolkatta, Patna, Osaka and Delhi.
However, the Nepal Airline flight operations to Mumbai, Bangalore, Dhaka, Karachi, Frankfurt, London Gatwick and Karachi have been discontinued.
Being a landlocked country, majority area is landlocked and the air transport is vital for economic development.
This airline has a vital role in national integration as none other modes of transport in this country as well-developed.
Apart from international and domestic passenger services, Royal Nepal Airline offers mountain flight services.
