BB Airways was a Nepalese airline based in Kathmandu, Nepal.[3] It was established and started operations in September 2012.[4] The airline's hub was Tribhuvan International Airport, from where it flew to three international destinations. The airline made its first flight on 13 October 2012 to Kuala Lumpur.[5] The Japanese investment company TBI Group supported the airline, which was managed and promoted by the Non Resident Nepali Association.[6]
| |||||||
| Founded | January 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 13 September 2012 | ||||||
| Hubs | Tribhuvan International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 1 | ||||||
| Destinations | 3 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal | ||||||
| Key people | Bhaban Bhatta[2] Shisheer Bhatta (Managing Director) | ||||||
| Website | www.bbairways.com | ||||||
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History
editBB Airways received its Air Operator Certificate on 12 April 2012 allowing operations to seven international destinations from Nepal: Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Doha, Delhi and Tokyo.[7] It started scheduled services from October 2012, but had to cease operations again several months later, as the leasing contract ran out.[8][9]
In April 2013, the airline tried to restart its scheduled services by leasing two Airbus A320s.[9] On 30 March 2014, while still operation no active aircraft, BB Airways signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MEGA Maldives Airlines in which the two carriers agreed to "collaborate on developing flights and sharing of resources".[10]
In 2017, BB Airways purchased a three decades old Boeing 757 from Nepal Airlines, with which it was planning to use to restart operations on the route Kathmandu-New Delhi.[11] However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal abstained from issuing an Air operator's certificate arguing that it would take at least one and half year to get a permit to restart its flight operation.[12]
In July 2019, the airline sold their sole Boeing 757.[13]
In 2024, news surfaced that the airline was trying to restart operations.[14]
Destinations
editBB Airways operated from Tribhuvan International Airport to two destinations in Asia:[15]
| Country | City | IATA | ICAO | Airport | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | HKG | VHHH | Hong Kong International Airport | ||
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | KUL | WMKK | Kuala Lumpur International Airport | ||
| Nepal | Kathmandu | KTM | VNKT | Tribhuvan International Airport | Hub |
Fleet
editCurrent fleet
editAs of October 2020, BB Airways does not possess or operate any planes.[13]
Former fleet
edit| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 757-200 | 2 | 1 leased from TonleSap Airlines in 2012/13[11] 1 acquired from Nepal Airlines in October 2017,[11] sold in 2019[13] |
References
edit- ^ "The Aviation Codes Website - Airline Codes beginning with". Avcodes.co.uk.
- ^ "Famous Hospitality Business Icon Bhaban Bhatta Leads Nepali diasporas' Global Organization NRNA". Huffington Post. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Launch of BB Airways as Nepal's second international carrier shakes up Kathmandu market". Centre for Aviation. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Nepalese international market could see growth as BB expands and Nepal Airlines renews fleet". Centre for Aviation. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Fly BB Airways". BB Airways. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ^ "BB Airways acquires green signal for int'l service". Nepal Mountain News. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017.
- ^ "BB Airways gets ministry's green signal". The Himalayan Times. 2012-01-03. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Nepal Airlines retired Boeing 757 to fly again with BB Airways in Kathmandu-Delhi sector". Aviation Nepal. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ a b "BB Airways to relaunch operations with two A320s; eyes a "significantly" larger network". ch-aviation. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ "MOU between BB Airways and MEGA Maldives Airlines". MEGA Maldives Airlines. 30 March 2014. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "Nepal's BB Airways acquires B757, to resume ops". ch-aviation. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "BB Airways faces tough time flying NAC-auctioned Boeing". The Kathmandu Post. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ a b c "Nepal's BB Airways sells off only B757 for part-out". ch-aviation. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ Andrew, Curran (12 July 2024). "Nepal's BB Airways eyes restart using damp-leases". CH Aviation. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "BB Airways destinations timetable". Flybbairways.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-08.