Yatra Magazine August 2008 | Buddha Air

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

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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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