Flight News 2005 Flight Information 2004 Nepal Flight News Air Sahara alliance for Kathmandu-Chicago flights November 2005 Air Sahara has entered into an agreement with American Airlines to Kathmandu-Delhi-Chicago flights from Nov 15, 2005. The daily flights will transport passengers from Kathmandu to Delhi using a smaller aircraft and then switch over to a Boeing 777. Air Sahara's general sales agent in Nepal is Zenith Travels. From December 2005 Air Sahara will also start Kathmandu-Delhi-London flights in alliance with British Airways. Austrian Airlines to resume flights September 2005 Austrian Airlines is resuming its seasonal flights to Europe on the Vienna-Kathmandu route from September 15, 2005. The only airline that flies directly to Europe from Nepal , the Austrian Airlines aircraft operating in his route has a capacity of 36 business and 209 economy class seats, a press statements release issued by the airlines said. The airline generally operates seasonal flights from Nepal to Europe for eight months a year - from mid-September to mid-May. Martin Air suspends flights to Nepal August 2005 Martin Air, the Netherlands based airline, has decided to suspend the Amsterdam - Kathmandu flights for 2005. Air Sahara to resume flights from September 1 July 2005 Air Sahara officials said the Indian airline will resume the Delhi-KTM flights from September 1, 2005. The airline has said nothing about its operation next year. Air Nepal International to begin operations July 2005 Air Nepal International (ANI) will begin KTM - Doha (Qatar) operations from end of July 2005. The company will be operating in three sectors in the initial phase: Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu-Doha-Dubai and Kathmandu-Bangkok. The company had signed an agreement with PB Company of Thailand for a Boeing 767 on 'wet lease' basis. Cosmic Air opened Kolkata - KTM service July 2005 Cosmic Air started KTM - Kolkata (India) flights on July 8, 2005. Qatar Tours named GSA of Air Nepal June 2005 AIR Nepal International (ANI) has appointed Qatar Tours (a subsidiary of Darwish Travel Co.) as its GSA. ANI is a new private airline that has traffic rights to various destinations from Kathmandu, including Doha. The airline's CEO, was in Doha to conclude agreements withDoha International Airport authorities that would allow ANI to start operations to Qatar by next month. Darwish said the addition of ANI to the group of airlines represented by Qatar Tours would provide another valuable route to its clients. According to the GSA, Air Nepal will fly to Doha 3 times a week to start with and is expected to extend its flight to 5 times. It will operate B-767-300 aircraft having a capacity of 249 economy class seats. Jet Airways temporararily suspended flights to KTM June 2005 Jet Airways, a leading private Indian airline and Qatar Airways have temporarily suspended flights on Kathmandu-Delhi sector and Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route respectively. Air Sahara, which had temporarily stopped its Kathmandu-Delhi operation since April 19 will resume its operation from July 1, said Zenith Travels, the airline's GSA. Air Sahara temporararily suspended flights to KTM April 2005 Air Sahara grounded in Nepal again. This is the second time in three months that Air Sahara has grounded its Delhi-Kathmandu flights in less than a year of its Nepal debut. the airline has had to face stiff competition since then. Besides its Indian competitors - national carrier Indian Airlines and a second private operator Jet Airways - it also has to contend with Nepal's state carrier Royal Nepalese Airlines and private Nepalese operator Cosmic Air. With all five flying to New Delhi, there has been a tough price war where Cosmic Air is leading with its heavily slashed fare of Nepalese Rs. 2,400 one way. Martinair to stop its Amsterdam flight April 2005 he Dutch charter airline, Martinair is stopping its once weekly Amsterdam-Kathmandu flights from 18 April because of low bookings. The airline's marketing department made the announcement in Amsterdam last week and hinted it was because of low occupancy and the reduced prospects of traffic picking up. Qatar Airways to stop its Kuala Lumpur flights April 2005 Qatar Airways has announced that it will terminate its four weekly Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur flights effective from 1 June because of low volume in both directions. However, Qatar says it is committed to keeping its twice daily flights to Doha. International airlines have suffered March 2005 Austrian Airlines has suspended flights for March. Airlines that used to depend on tourists are turning now to ferrying Nepali migrant workers to the Gulf. Phuket Air, scheduled to begin Bangkok-Kathmandu-Dubai flights next month is doing just that. Air Sahara to resume flights from mid-March 2005 February 2005 Air Sahara, a leading private sector Indian airline company which started operating between Kathmandu and Delhi in September last year, has suspended flights until 14 March. The reason behind the move is apparently fleet shortage. Air Sahara, one of the fastest growing airlines in India, had been using its Boeing 737 for Kathmandu-Delhi-Kathmandu flights at the cheapest rate among the Indian airlines operating in Nepal. With Air Sahara suspending its flights to Nepal, there are two Indian airlines currently operating in Nepal.