Airlines (Commonwealth Union)_Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture, Himalaya Airlines has been registered as an operator under an International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety audit program, the first and only one for airlines in Nepal. It has become an IOSA registered operator, the first airline in Nepal to do so. The Airline received its milestone achievement with the issuance of IOSA certification by the IATA.
Himalaya Airlines, Nepal’s leading international carrier has paved the way to elevate the safety standards in the Aviation sector of Nepal by becoming the nation’s first and only IOSA Registered Operator.
Himalaya Airlines is a Nepalese airline that operates from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. Himalaya Airlines was founded as a joint venture between Yeti World Investment Group and Tibet Airlines, in 2014. It launched operations with a single Airbus A320 in May 2016.
Himalaya Airlines was the first airline in Nepal to introduce a Premium Economy class . It consists of 8 seats on their Airbus A320 with a four-abreast configuration. The seats were 26.9 inches (680 mm) wide with 43 inches (1,100 mm) seat pitch. this section of the aircraft was rebranded as the airlines’ Business Class in 2020,but has since been deprecated.
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is the benchmark for international safety management in airlines. The career said that the issuance of IOSA certification by the IATA on 28th December has validity until 3rd March, 2025.
This process involves an audit of an airline’s procedures, policies and practices and includes both document reviews and on-site assessments. After the successful completion of Audit and compliance of all findings, airlines are provided by IOSA certification. Thus, IOSA registration is viewed as a mark of safety excellence, and is also the prerequisite for IATA membership.
The move means that the operational management and control systems of Himalaya Airlines have been recognized and accepted internationally, the Kathmandu-based airline announced on Tuesday at a press meet in the Nepali capital.
The certificate reads the following :
“Himalaya Airlines Pvt Ltd has been successfully registered as an IOSA operator by the provisions of the IOSA Program Manual.”
Vice-president of Himalaya Airlines, Vijay Shrestha, said, “This milestone signifies a positive shift in Nepal’s aviation industry. He went on to say they were proud to lead by example, setting new benchmarks for safety and operational excellence.
He said that this certification positions them as a trusted airline in the global aviation community while it validates their ongoing efforts to maintain the highest safety standards. He also stated that they look forward to continuing to raise the bar in the years to come.
Nabina Karmacharya, Deputy Director General of the Aviation Safety and Security Regulation Directorate said, “On behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, I commend Himalaya Airlines for their exceptional dedication to safety leading to the prestigious IOSA certification.
This accomplishment of Himalaya has helped to reinforce trust and confidence amongst the passengers, contributing significantly towards the growth and development of air travel in the country.
Himalaya Airlines has 4 aircraft in its fleet: 3 Airbus 320 and 1 Airbus 319. It presently operates flights to the UAE, Malaysia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and China. Himalaya flies to five cities in China, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Qingdao,and Lhasa.
Established in 2003, the IOSA’s process involves an audit of airline policies, procedures and practices, and the audit includes both document reviews and on-site assessments.
Himalaya Airlines currently operates passenger flights to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Bangladesh and China.
