Himalaya Airlines starts Kathmandu-Qingdao flights
Travel Biz News —
KATHMANDU – Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture between Nepal and China, has started direct flights to Qingdao from Kathmandu today.
This historic event marks a significant milestone in Himalaya Airlines’ commitment to enhancing connectivity and promoting bilateral ties between Nepal and China.
The new Kathmandu-Qingdao-Kathmandu route will offer passengers seamless travel options between the capital city of Nepal and the coastal city of China, known for its picturesque landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and economic significance.
The flight duration is 5 hours and 50 minutes. A total of 113 passengers boarded the first flight today.The airline is set to operate its weekly service for this route scheduled for every Sunday, September 10, 2023 onwards.
The inaugural flight event was graced by the Minister of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati ,Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song along with other dignitaries who were welcomed by Zhou Enyong, President, and Vijay Shrestha, Vice-President of Himalaya Airlines.
In his welcome address, President Zhou Enyong remarked, ” Kathmandu-Qingdao-Kathmandu flight service is not just a flight route in the H9 network; it’s a bridge between Nepal and China. Qingdao is an essential commercial & financial center of China. It is a city which also connects Asia with Europe. We are immensely proud to play an essential role in enhancing bilateral connectivity, cultural exchanges, tourism, and trade between the two countries.”
Vijay Shrestha, who is also the spokesperson of Himalaya Airlines, expressed his enthusiasm for the newly launched route, stating, ” The main mission of Himalaya is to be able to operate flights to 10 different tourism sectors of China and welcome 1 million tourists to Nepal.”
“With the introduction of this new route, Himalaya aims to create memorable travel experiences while maintaining the highest safety standards. We look forward to welcoming travelers on board our flights and helping them explore the beauty and opportunities that both Nepal and Qingdao have to offer,” he added.
Himalaya Airlines (H9) is a Nepal-China joint venture International Airlines, established in 2014 with two objectives: to promote people-to-people contact between Nepal and other countries, as well as to boost Nepal’s trade and tourism industries. The joint venture alliance is between Tibetan Civil Aviation Development & Investment Company Ltd. (TCADIC) and Yeti World Investment Pvt. Ltd.
H9 young fleet has total 4 aircraft: three Airbus 320-214 (180 all-economy seats) and one Airbus 319-115 (144 all economy seats). H9 is currently operating passenger flights to prominent countries of Middle East & South Asia: UAE, Malaysia, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bangladesh & China.
10 September 2023
