Prakash Kafle/Kathmandu. Nepal’s domestic aviation sector is set to welcome a new airline as Danfe Airlines prepares to begin regular operations from Dashain 2083 (2026/27). The company has already received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, allowing it to proceed with further operational preparations.
According to CAAN information officer Gyanendra Bhul, the airline obtained the NOC a few weeks ago. After receiving this approval, the company must now move ahead with aircraft acquisition, demonstration flights, and other technical requirements before launching commercial operations.
Abhishekman Shrestha, the operator of Danfe Airlines, stated that the airline has started preparations to bring aircraft into Nepal and conduct demonstration flights following the approval. The company plans to bring its first aircraft in Ashar 2083 and begin training flights, aiming to start full commercial operations by Dashain.
Initially, the airline intends to operate three ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, a modern model that has not yet been widely used in Nepal’s domestic market.
The first aircraft will arrive around mid-2026, followed by two additional planes shortly afterward. The company has already begun recruiting necessary staff and technical personnel to support its operations. According to the airline, the ATR 72-600 was selected to provide passengers with a more comfortable and high-quality travel experience.
With Pokhara as its main base, Danfe Airlines plans to operate flights to destinations including Nepalgunj, Surkhet, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bhadrapur, Simara, Janakpur, Bhairahawa, and Tumlingtar. The airline will also offer mountain flights. However, flights to Dhangadhi will not be introduced in the first phase and will likely start only after a fourth aircraft is added to the fleet.
Danfe Airlines is being launched by a new management group after reviving the license of the former Makalu Air, which ceased operations about a decade ago. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation had earlier renewed the license in the name of Danfe Aviation Corporation, allowing it to operate domestic air services until Bhadra 29, 2084.
The company estimates an investment of nearly NPR 4 billion to operate the three aircraft. In the international market, a single ATR 72-600 aircraft currently costs around USD 11 million (approximately NPR 1.64 billion).
नेपालको आन्तरिक उडानमा नयाँ एयरलाइन्सको थप, दशैं अगाडि बाटै नै सुरु हुँदै।
