September 19: Yeti Airlines has announced the addition of its third ATR 72-500 aircraft to its fleet. According to the airline company, this aircraft with call sign 9N-ALN arrived in Kathmandu from Toulouse, France via Italy, Egypt and Muscat on Tuesday, September 18.

Issuing a press statement, Yeti Airlines said that the ATR 72-500 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured by the French-Italian consortium ATR.

The company claimed that the ATR72 has become one of the most successful regional carriers in the world, steadily expanding and entering into new global markets with its superior performance.

“The ATR 72-500 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127 engines and are equipped with Hamilton Sundstrand composite blade propellers.  These high-tech engines and propellers ensure exceptional performance, fuel efficiency, remarkably low noise and low greenhouse gas emissions,” the statement added.

According to the company, this ATR 72-500 aircraft was purchased from KF Turbo Leasing Limited and will be one of the youngest ATR 72 aircraft operating in Nepal. With the addition of this aircraft, Yeti Airlines said it will expand its ATR 72 operations to Bhadrapur and Pokhara and expressed its belief that this will help facilitate Nepal achieve its target of 2 million tourist arrival by the year 2020.

Yeti Airlines commenced its operations from 1998. Yeti Airlines now operates three ATR 72-500 and six BAE Systems Jetstream 41 aircraft. Along with Tara Air, its sister airline which operates two Dornier Do228 and four DHC6 Twin Otter aircraft, Yeti Airlines claimed that it operates the widest network of flight routes in Nepal.