Kathmandu, September 6

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has permitted Simrik Airlines to resume its flights after temporarily suspending the airline’s scheduled flights for 18 days.

CAAN had suspended all flights of Simrik Airlines on August 20 after the airline company failed to meet the technical standard of airworthiness requirements under the Civil Aviation Regulation.

The inspection team of CAAN had found that the airline company was using substandard spare parts in its aircraft. Thereafter, CAAN had directed the airline company to replace its spare parts and conduct the required maintenance of its aircraft.

“After we completed all the tasks directed by CAAN, Simrik Airlines has received the flight operation permission from CAAN today,” informed Prajol Thapa, chief of Marketing and Sales Department of Simrik Airlines.

On August 23, CAAN had refused to lift the suspension of flights of Simrik Airlines citing that documents presented by the airline were inadequate and asked it to submit more documents. After that the company again submitted additional documents on Tuesday to CAAN. As per the Civil Aviation Regulation, CAAN can issue an order to cancel the airworthiness certificate of such aircraft or suspend it in case an aircraft is flown in contrary to the terms and conditions mentioned in the airworthiness certificate provided to any aircraft and the prevailing laws related to civil aviation.

“We are always conscious about operating safe and secure flights for our passengers,” Thapa said, “In the course of providing secure flight services, CAAN had recommended us to make a few changes in our aircraft that we have obliged with.”

According to him, the airline will resume its scheduled flights from Saturday.

Established in 2009, Simrik Airlines has been operating domestic flights to Bhairahawa, Bharatpur and Pokhara with its two Beechcraft 1900 series aircraft.