 |
BB Airways is set to be a new force in Nepali aviation |
NEPAL. The DFASS Group has extended its inflight duty free concession portfolio in Asia Pacific with Kathmandu-based BB Airways. BB, a new start-up, is the first private airline permitted to carry the national flag of Nepal.
The DFASS Group Deputy Chairman John Garner said: “We are endeavouring to be ready to launch on the inaugural scheduled flight on 11 October, dependent on resolving our final logistical issues. The [DFASS] Singapore team has done an outstanding job of modelling an innovative product range and the catalogue is already at our printers. Our plan is to offer a full duty free service on board before the team departs for Cannes.”
BB Airways is to launch scheduled flights to Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong from October with its Boeing 757-200 aircraft. The carrier also announced charter flights to Siem Reap and Tokyo (Narita) airports.
Aviation analysts said the launch of BB Airways on the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur sector is likely to benefit passengers through lower fares. The sector has become a busy route, served by Nepal Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia X, Biman Bangladesh, Jet Airways and Thai Airways.
BB Airways will fly four weekly―Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday―scheduled flights to Kuala Lumpur and three weekly―Monday, Friday and Sunday―scheduled flights to Hong Kong.
“We are a legacy carrier, yet we will be competing with budget airlines in providing the most competitive airfare to our valued passengers,” said Chairman Bhaban Bhatta.
The company has ambitions to grow into other markets too. Hari Bhakta Shrestha, Chief Operating Officer of BB Airways, said another Boeing 757 will be added to the fleet soon. “With the arrival of the second aircraft, we plan to connect to Bangkok, Singapore, New Delhi and Doha,” he said.
Under the carrier’s strategic plan, two Boeing 767s will also be added in the fleet in the near future to serve Shanghai, Frankfurt, London, Seoul, Sydney and Lhasa.
BB Airways will be the third Nepal-based carrier to serve international destinations alongside Nepal Airlines and Buddha Air.
According to BB Airways, Nepali carriers’ business share of the market to international destinations is less than 10%, with these routes dominated by overseas airlines.
“Considering the bitter truth that the number of Nepali carriers that served international destinations failed to be sustained in past years, we have moved forward and aspire to establish BB Airways as a true flag carrier of Nepal,” Bhatta said. “The carrier is being run by a Nepali-Japanese professional management team.”
[houseAd]
