D BUD
Buddha Air
Customer First
HA
No. 16 August 2008
w w w . b u d d h a a i r . c o m
T
wo new ATR 42/320 aircraft will be making regular
any of its competitors. Buddha Air's strategy is to check rising
flights in Nepal. Buddha Air has already struck a deal
airfares by slashing flight operating costs and make airfares
with the aircraft manufacturer ATR in France for
affordable for common people.
the purchase of these aircraft. These planes are landing in Kathmandu in the second week of August. Buddha Air is purchasing these aircraft in the backdrop of soaring airfares triggered by the global upsurge in fuel prices. With these large aircraft, the airline will be able to
Currently, Buddha Air owns five 1900D Beech aircraft and two 1900C Beech aircraft, each with capacity to seat 18 passengers. The airline’s two Beech 1900C airplanes are up for sale. ATR
planes
are
safe,
reliable,
easy-to-maintain,
make up for rising aviation fuel costs and meet the swelling
comfortable, and environment-friendly. They are fuel efficient,
passenger volume.
thanks to its high-tech engines and propeller efficiency. All
The ATR 42/320 is fuel-efficient and can seat up to 48 passengers. Its operating cost is 15 to 20 percent lower than
ATR models are compliant with existing noise regulations and emit far less CO2 per passenger-km than other regional jets.
Contd. on Page 3
Buddha Air launching ATR 42s
A T R
Contd. from Page 1
4 2 / 3 0 0
The airliner was announced in 1981. It made its maiden flight on 16 August 1984. French and Italian certification followed in September 1985 and its first revenue flight was in December of the same year with Air Littoral of France. Since its entry into service in December 1985, ATR 42 has become a reference in the regional air transport industry for reliability. Well over 900 ATRs are in service with more than 65 airlines. The aircraft can be operated in any severe or restricted environment, such as on narrow and short
FEATURES Maximum Altitude: 7620 M (25,000 ft) Operating Range: 5040 km Crew: 2 Cruise Speed: 490 km/h Engine: Pratt and Whitney PW 120 Turboprop engines (x2) Height: 7.59 m Length: 22.67m Wingspan: 24.57m Passenger Capacity: 47 Maximum Take-off Weight: 16,700 kg
These aircraft will carry passengers to and from major cities of Nepal including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bhadrapur, Bhairawa, and Nepalgunj. ATR 42 is a twin-turboprop, short-haul regional airliner built in France and Italy by ATR (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale). It is a joint venture resulting from 50/50 association of two leading European aircraft manufacturers—Aerospatiale (France) and Alenia (Italy). The name ‘42’ comes from the aircraft's seating, which varies from 40 to 50.
BUDDHA
Yatra
August — October 2008
runways, high airports, on semiprepared airfields, in extreme cold and hot temperatures, allowing air service to remote locations with limited facilities. It can make regular flights in adverse weather conditions like those in the USA, Canada, Norway, Danemark, Finlande, Columbia, and India. This model is appropriate in the Nepali weather which is very capricious. The standard cabin layout is 48 seats at 30-inch pitch. The dimensions of the front cargo compartment can be adapted to accommodate 50-seat and 46-seat configurations at 30-inch pitch. It provides maximum passenger space, setting new standards of comfort
3
L O A N
A G R E E M E N T
IFC's $ 10m loan to Buddha Air to strengthen its market leadership
B
uddha Air Private Limited has
four Nepali projects in the past - two
tioned from a start-up into a profitable
embarked on a strategic plan
in hydropower generation, one in
airline over the past decade. With a
to adapt in the face of a rapidly
tourism and one in a leasing company.
strong and committed management,
evolving competitive landscape and
IFC's current investments in transpor-
the airline enjoys a premium image
rising oil prices. It is expanding its
tation sector overall amount to half a
and is renowned for its impeccable
capacity and adopting improved
billion dollars. Some of the airlines
safety record.
fuel efficiency methods to make
to receive IFC loans are Jet Airways of
significant reductions in operating
India, Siberia Airlines of Russia and
growth in developing countries by
costs. The company is committed to
Kenya Airways of Kenya.
financing private sector investment,
strengthening its leadership position
IFC conducted a thorough due
IFC fosters sustainable economic
mobilizing private capital in local and
and is focused on optimizing potential
diligence on Buddha Air, covering a
international financial markets, and
growth opportunities.
wide range of issues including opera-
providing advisory and risk mitigation
tion safety, training programs, aircraft
services to businesses and govern-
maintenance and servicing, environ-
ments. IFC's vision is that people
In line with the above, Budha Air had submitted an investment proposal
Buddha Air has gradually transitioned from a start-up into a profitable airline over the past decade. With a strong and committed management, the airline enjoys a premium image and is renowned for its impeccable safety record
International Finance Corporation
Buddha Air Pvt. Ltd.
World Bank Group
to IFC, a member of the World Bank group, in May this year for the purchase of two ATR 42/320 aircraft from France. IFC has recently
should have the opportunity to escape
approved a 10 year long term loan of
ment protection
$10 million to part finance this expan-
at ground sites, aircraft noise and
sion. These two aircraft will be opera-
emission controls and cargo handling
billion and mobilized an additional
tional in Kathmandu by mid-August.
policy. The team also studied the
$3.9 billion through syndications and
Currently, buddha Air owns five 1900D
contribution of the airline to the local
structured finance for 299 invest-
Beech aircraft and two 1900C Beech air-
economy, its prospect of making prof-
ments in 69 developing countries. IFC
craft.
its, and labor rights and welfare issues.
also provided advisory services in 97
IFC has invested $62.7 million in
4
Buddha Air has gradually transi-
poverty and improve their lives. In FYO7, IFC committed $8.2
countries.
BUDDHA
Yatra
August — October 2008
T I C K E T I N G
Buddha Air hikes salaries I
n an attempt to offset the impacts of rising inflation and growing cost
of living on its employees, Buddha Air has recently restructured the salary scale of its staff members. The airline management hiked up the salaries by 20 to 25 percent. It was effected from April this year. Buddha Air has the official policy of hiking salaries every three years. Last time, it was done in August, 2006. But the management decided to increase salaries a year shy of the normal date this time in the backdrop of rising inflation and
Inflation
8 Percent
It is our policy to provide the employees with benefits in propor-
Salary Hiked
tion to profits made by the organiza-
20-25 Percent
tion. Nepal’s inflation has already
Number of Employees
hit eight percent. Food prices have
440
shot up massively due to low production of food worldwide, while
soaring cost of living.
people’s purchasing power has gone
The decision however doesn’t
on the payroll. Since its inception in
down significantly. Likewise the
apply to the salary scale of pilots and
1997, Buddha Air has always done its
prices of consumer goods have soared.
engineers working for the airline. The
best to address the needs of its em-
On top of that, fuel prices have contin-
management is set to increase their
ployees and formulated policies for
ued to skyrocket in the international
salaries in August this year after inten-
their welfare, realizing that a needy
market, betokening harsher days ahead
sive consultations.
manpower is always an obstacle to
for the economies of oil-importing
achieving organizational goals.
countries like Nepal
The airline has over 440 people
It is the official milleage card carrier of Buddha Air MAIN FEATURES
Clearing & Forwarding Service
Fastest Delivery Service
Cargo Service in any part of Nepal
Proof of Delivery System
Door to door pickup & delivery system
On Board Courier (OBC)
By Air Service in Emergency
Largest Network in Nepal
DOMESTIC & WORLDWIDE EXPRESS
SCUD EXPRESS (P) LTD.
Khichapokhari, Kathmandu, Tel : 4219103/4219104, Fax: 4222223 Mobile: 9851098364, 9841438743, 9841327934, 9841617562
BUDDHA
Yatra
August — October 2008
5
A C T I V I T I E S
I
n less than a decade since its in-
analyzed frequently. If any problem is
New Zealand conducted a weeklong
ception, Buddha Air achieved an
detected, the airline’s Safety Division
training on flight safety in Kathmandu
exemplary success. It evolved into a
fixes it or makes necessary suggestions
in mid-July. Technicians from Buddha
major airline, blazing a trail in the
for action. These devices are also uti-
Air participated in the program. Simi-
country’s domestic airline sector.
lized to ensure that pilots are flying
larly, some of the pilots are soon go-
What lies behind this success is its
planes as per the manuals.
ing to Bangkok to hone their skills.
quality service.
Arranging training for its pilots
Likewise, a group of pilots and
The airline has taken all pos-
and technicians is also part of the air-
engineers are flying to Houston in
sible measures to make its flights
line’s strategy to make its flights safe.
the USA to receive training on ATR
cheap, comfortable and reliable. On
Recently the airline has put more effort
aircraft operation and maintenance.
top of everything else, the airline
into such training. Engineers from Air
They will spend one month in Hous-
has taken extra cautions to make its flights safe. While making profits the airline has never compromised on the safety of its flights. ‘Make Flights Safe’ is the mantra of the airline.
ton. The training is very
Buddha flights are safe
important as Buddha Air is launching two ATR aircraft. These aircraft are landing
in
Kathmandu
in a couple of weeks.
Buddha Air planes are
Spare parts of the air-
equipped with Aircraft Data
craft have already been
Acquisition
brought to Nepal.
System
(ADAS)
and Solid State Digital Flight Data
Recorder
Buddha Air takes
(SSDFDR).
minute details into ac-
These devices record engine
count and installs avail-
trends and caution pilots in
able equipment in its
advance
aircraft to make flights
against
technical
problems, if there are any.
safe. Your safety is our
Besides, data from these
prime concern. So feel
devices are downloaded and
T
he world’s largest passenger plane landed in Sydney on October 25, 2007, concluding its
maiden commercial flight from Singapore. The double-decker Airbus A380, dubbed the “superjumbo”, flew across
safe with us
Airbus A380:
The largest aircraft
Sydney Harbour before touching down
aircraft on routes to London Heathrow,
on time after a seven-hour flight.
Tokyo and San Francisco. British Air-
Hundreds of airport staff and
ways, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic will
aviation enthusiasts lined the fences
also be taking delivery of A380s in the
outside the airport to watch the plane
next year.
land and passengers disembark.
Passengers paid between £273
The A380 replaces the Boeing
and £50,000 to be on the maiden
747 jumbo as the world’s largest
flight, after bidding for the tickets as
airliner in service. Although the 361-
part of an internet charity auction
tonne A380 can seat more than 800
The first commercial flight fol-
which raised $US1.3 million. The most
passengers, Singapore Airlines, which
lows nearly two years of delays, largely
expensive ticket was sold for almost
took delivery of the first aircraft ear-
attributed to the complexity of produc-
£50,000 to Julian Hayward, a 38-year-
lier this month, has configured the
tion.
old Briton based in Sydney, who flew
aircraft to carry 471 passengers over
Singapore Airlines is to take
two decks, including first-class suites
delivery of another five superjumbos
with beds.
in 2008, and plans to introduce the
6
in seat 1A in the first class area of the plane (Sources)
BUDDHA
Yatra
August — October 2008
S A Y
I am satisfied with the services.
Buddha Air
Customer First
But it doesn’t mean that there is no room for improvement. You had bet-
Bista
Dr CS Agrawal
ing. Besides, you should provide passengers with wet towels, especially during summer flights.
felicitated
weaknesses.
Buddha Air should start e-ticketNo. 15 May 2008
w w w . b u d d h a a i r . c o m
ter conduct a survey and find out your
P I E C E
Start e-ticketing
HA
BUD
D
Services satisfactory
Y O U R
Manoj Thapa Kathmandu
D
eepak Bista, 32, born to Mahabir and Kalawati Bista hails from the far western region of Nepal, Raikwar Bochawa. He was a keen sportsman from a very young age, his parents tried to instill the importance of education, learning and school. However, his heart lay in sports; this notion was and is still frowned upon so he consented to his parents’ wish of further education and eventually engineering. He began teaching at Gyan Niketan Boarding School, after his ISC at Siddha Nath Science Campus in Mahendra Nagar, during which period his fondness for volley ball grew.
BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan
Weather information needed
off diligently. His relentless belief in himself and his undying commitment to the sport has awarded him with the honor of competing at the Olympic Games to be held in the Peoples Republic of China this summer. He is the first male Nepali and the second Nepali to ever to enter the Olympic Games. Sangina Baidya was qualified for the Athens Olympics in 2004. Many awards, medals and laurels have become synonym to his name. Nepal is proud to have a gem of this caliber.
Soon after, he reconsidered his decision to continue with a sport involving many players. On the suggestion of Coach Govind Bista and friend Keshab Bhatta, Deepak went on to choose Taekwondo as his ultimate sport. He joined Tae-kwon-do at Dangadi Dojang. Upon completion of the yellow belt grading, he beat a black belt holder during the National Tae- Kwon- Do championship held in Hetauda in 1996. With great difficulty and relentless enthusiasm, Bista moved to the capital to continue his education and to train at Dasrath Rangasala Stadium. The rest as they say is history.
I recently enjoyed a mountain flight. My first scheduled flight was can-
Buddha Air Sports Committee (BASC) honored Bista with a cheque worth Rs. 11,111 and a felicitation letter. Executive chairman of Buddha Air, Surendra Bahadur Basnet, handed over the letter to Bista, while senior pilot Captain D B Basnet gave away the cheque at the honorary ceremony held at the Buddha Air main office, Jawlakhel.
It wasn’t an easy journey. However, his hard work has paid
celled due to poor visibility. It would
Discount for differently able You used to grant 50 percent discount on tickets to people with disabilities. They have lately refused to provide such discounts in Dhangadi. Have you annulled this provision?
be good if you put information about weather on your homepage. We would
be able to know about flights in time.
than one hour). Consider this while
This is already in practice in Japan.
buying new planes.
Kumiko Morino
Lazimpat
Punctual flights
Today, all the passengers arrived
at the airport in time. Your plane took
Increase number of flights to Dhangadi
off 10 minutes earlier than the schedule. It is good. Keep it up.
DR Pant
Thapathali, Kathmandu
You have to increase the number of flights to Dhangadi.
DB Singh
Jumla
Improve booking system You need to improve booking system. Yesterday I visited many travel agencies to buy a ticket for today morning’s flight. They said all the tickets were sold out. But my friend who traveled on
Jivan Kumar Sharma
that flight informed me that some seats
Lalitpur
Dhangadi
were vacant.
Punctuality should count. You
Services are good. You need to
need to jot down phone numbers of
operate more flights to Dhangadi. Also,
passengers while selling tickets and in-
you should serve snacks during flights.
form them in case flights are delayed or
cancelled.
Dal Bahadur G.C. Balaju Kathmandu
Anil Sharma
Kalanki, Kathmandu
Operate evening flights
I have enjoyed this flight. Please,
Provide snacks
operate flights in the evening too.
ing flights.
Passengers may need to go to lava-
Indra Kant Jha
BUDDHA
Yatra
complete
August — October 2008
printing
Dr. Mani Ram Bishnoi Bharatpur
Ghattekulo
CONTACT US FOR: a
College of Medical Sciences,
tory during long distance flights (more
Yogendra Prasad Lekhak Kathmandu
You need to provide snacks dur-
Where is lavatory?
Singh Raj Dangi
house
All kinds of Printing Items
New Baneshwore, Phone :4493342
7
T I C K E T I N G
Buddha Apex fare in offing B
uddha Air is a success story in the Nepali private sector. It entered
into service in 1997 with just two Beech 1900 aircraft. In less than a decade since its inception it developed into the leading airline in the country. Currently, Buddha Air flies seven 18seater Beech airplanes. The airline is adding two ATR 42/320s to its fleet in August this year. With the prices of aviation fuel skyrocketing,
airlines
have
been
compelled to jack up airfares. This has adversely affected passengers in the developing countries. Experts say fuel prices are unlikely to plateau in
Advanced Purchase Excursion (Apex)
airline will bring out the details of the
the foreseeable future. In view of this,
fare schemes for Nepali passengers.
scheme in a few weeks.
we decided to buy ATR planes. The
Apex tickets are much lower than the
The airline could not implement
fuel-efficient ATR 42s will help the
normal fares and are valid on economy
Apex fare schemes in the past due to
airline make air tickets affordable for
class. They are non-cancelable and
the absence of large aircraft in its fleet.
commoners.
offered at heavy discounts during
The import of 48-seater ATR aircraft
certain days prior to departures. The
will make it possible
Buddha
Air
is
implementing
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BUDDHA
Yatra
August — October 2008
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H E A L T H
&
A
ging may be part of your genetic plan, not the result of wear-and-
S C I E N C E
Aging is part of your genetic plan
tear on your body, a new study of worms suggests.
genes operated by elt-3, a transcription
The finding contradicts a com-
factor that becomes more abundant
monly held theory and gives hope that
with age. Two other transcription fac-
science eventually may find a way to
tors that regulate elt-3 also changed
stop or reverse the aging process.
with age.
Comparing young and old C.
The same process may not hap-
elegans nematode worms, researchers
pen in humans, Kim said, but the find-
at the Stanford University School of
ing should start scientists on a mission
Medicine found that shifts in levels
to find whether this aging mechanism
of three transcription factors -- the
is also in people.
molecular switches that turn genes on
rent model of damage accumulation,
and off -- appeared to trigger genetic
and so we had to consider the alterna-
by rust. But then how do you explain
pathways that age the worms.
tive model of developmental drift,”
animals that don’t age?” said Kim, who
senior author Stuart Kim, a professor
cited tortoises that lay eggs at 100 and
less-popular theory that genetic pro-
of developmental biology and of genet-
whales that live to 200.
gramming, rather than a lifelong accu-
ics, said in a Stanford news release.
This finding would back the
mulation of toxins and damage, make organisms grow old. “Our data just didn’t fit the cur-
“Everyone has assumed we age
“A free radical doesn’t care if it’s
The researchers, whose report was published in the July 24 issue of
in a human cell or a worm cell,” he said
Cell, found hundreds of age-regulated
(Sources)
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10
BUDDHA
Yatra
August — October 2008
Sharing Risks... Building Relationships
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