Bhawan Bhatta, the former president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, is now the chairman of “BB Airways,” which has been granted permission to operate flights. Having obtained NOC, BB Airways will now be eligible for flights once they obtain the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
The Civil Aviation Authority has completed various processes before granting the AOC to BB Airways. According to the process, after completing three phases, the authority granted NOC to BB Airways, allowing them to operate flights. The authority provided NOC to BB Airways on February 23rd.
The process involves five stages: first is the application, second is the documentation, third is the inspection and testing, fourth is the inspection and examination, and fifth is issuing the AOC for commercial flights.
BB Airways is now required to acquire three aircraft within a year. The authority has informed them that their NOC will be valid for a year. BB Airways had included in its business plan the operation of five narrow-body aircraft for international flights. However, the authority granted NOC for the immediate acquisition of three aircraft.
Established in 2068 B.S., BB Airways commenced international flights from Kathmandu on Bhadra 28, 2069 B.S. They had leased a Boeing 757-200 series aircraft from Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Airlines for operation, but operations were halted in Kartik.
BB Airways had faced a suspension due to the delay in obtaining its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). After the suspension of AOC, the airline had renewed its operating permit from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation two years ago.
In addition to renewing its license, BB Airways had also sought to change the type of aircraft in its initial license. Initially, the license was obtained for operating international flights with Boeing aircraft, but BB Airways renewed the license to operate international flights with Airbus aircraft.
Along with the renewal of the airline operating license, BB Airways had applied to the authority to amend the AOC to change the type of aircraft. BB Airways had completed the pre-application, application, and documentation phases. During the documentation phase, BB Airways’ business/financial management plan was approved.
Initially, BB Airways had planned to start operating flights with two Airbus narrow-body aircraft. BB had estimated a total cost of Rs. 25.53 billion for this, with 30% equity and 70% debt financing. BB Airways has been granted permission by the authority to acquire three aircraft.
