Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal recently lifted the ban on four Nepalese operators after paying NPR21.3 million in overdue fees. The four operators were Guna Airlines, Fishtail Air, Prabhu Helicopters and Mountain Helicopters. The CAAN had suspended their flying rights on August 11.
However, within 48 hours, the airlines managed to pay the overdue fees to CAAN. Of the four, Guna Airlines owed CAAN about NPR5.512 million in landing, parking, air navigation and other fees accrued at 32 CAAN-managed and operated airports in Nepal. In one of the audits conducted by CAAN, the regulator found weak balance sheets of Guna Airlines.
Fishtail Air, Prabhu Helicopters, and Mountain Helicopters, are all rotary wing operators. According to their websites, Fishtail Air operates two Eurocopter, and one Bell Helicopter 206B III Jet Ranger. Prabhu Helicopters operates four Robinson R66s and one Airbus H125, while Mountain Helicopters operates a single AS350 B3 Eurocopter.
“These four airlines are among multiple operators that owed CAAN money at the end of the Nepalese financial year. Apart from the above four, six other airlines owed the agency a total of NPR129 million. They are Shree Airlines, Summit Air (Nepal), Tara Air, Saurya Airlines, and Sita Air,” said a CAAN spokesperson while speaking to Himalaya Times.
"The suspension placed on Simrik Air, Prabhu Helicopters, and Fishtail Air, among other companies, has been lifted after they paid their dues, while other companies are also expected to follow the same soon," said Bhul. "The airline companies are required to make all payments within the last day of the fiscal year. After receiving the list of unpaid dues of the last fiscal from the financial department of CAAN, the director general of the authority had decided to suspend all services and flights for the listed companies other than for rescue operations,” the spokesperson added.