BB Airways

BB Airways
IATA ICAO Call sign
BO BBW BEEBEE AIRWAYS[1]
FoundedJanuary 2012
Commenced operations13 September 2012
HubsTribhuvan International Airport
Fleet size1
Destinations3
HeadquartersSinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Key peopleBhaban Bhatta[2]
Shisheer Bhatta (Managing Director)
Websitewww.bbairways.com
BB Airways' leased Boeing 757. Note the Tag at the front of the aircraft: "BB Airways operated by Tonlesap Airlines"
BB Airways acquired this Boeing 757 from Nepal Airlines in 2017 but never operated it until its sale in 2019.

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]

History

BB 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

BB 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

Current fleet

As of October 2020, BB Airways does not possess or operate any planes.[13]

Former fleet

BB Airways Fleet
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

  1. ^ "The Aviation Codes Website - Airline Codes beginning with". Avcodes.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Famous Hospitality Business Icon Bhaban Bhatta Leads Nepali diasporas' Global Organization NRNA". Huffington Post. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Launch of BB Airways as Nepal's second international carrier shakes up Kathmandu market". Centre for Aviation. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Nepalese international market could see growth as BB expands and Nepal Airlines renews fleet". Centre for Aviation. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Fly BB Airways". BB Airways. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
  6. ^ "BB Airways acquires green signal for int'l service". Nepal Mountain News. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017.
  7. ^ "BB Airways gets ministry's green signal". The Himalayan Times. 2012-01-03. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Nepal Airlines retired Boeing 757 to fly again with BB Airways in Kathmandu-Delhi sector". Aviation Nepal. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  9. ^ a b "BB Airways to relaunch operations with two A320s; eyes a "significantly" larger network". ch-aviation. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  10. ^ "MOU between BB Airways and MEGA Maldives Airlines". MEGA Maldives Airlines. 30 March 2014. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "Nepal's BB Airways acquires B757, to resume ops". ch-aviation. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  12. ^ "BB Airways faces tough time flying NAC-auctioned Boeing". The Kathmandu Post. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  13. ^ a b c "Nepal's BB Airways sells off only B757 for part-out". ch-aviation. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  14. ^ Andrew, Curran (12 July 2024). "Nepal's BB Airways eyes restart using damp-leases". CH Aviation. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  15. ^ "BB Airways destinations timetable". Flybbairways.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-08.