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KATHMANDU,NEPAL: Nepal’s largest private carrier Buddha Air has formally retired its ATR 72-500 aircraft with call sign 9N-AJO after completing around 70,000 flight cycles, becoming one of the first ATR 72-500 aircraft in the world to reach the full operational cycle limit and exit commercial service.
The turboprop aircraft had been in commercial operation since July 2, 2010. Its final flight was conducted on March 9, 2026, operating the Bhairahawa to Kathmandu sector, bringing to an end a 16 year operational journey in Nepal’s domestic aviation network.
During its service life, the aircraft safely transported 2,482,772 passengers across multiple routes in Nepal and beyond. In aviation terms, one flight cycle represents a single takeoff and landing, and the ATR 72 series is designed with a maximum operational limit of around 72,000 cycles.
Buddha Air Executive Chairman Birendra Bahadur Basnet described the aircraft’s retirement as an emotional moment for the airline. He said the aircraft played a significant role in making air travel in Nepal more accessible, cost effective, and environmentally friendly while also contributing to the airline’s expansion and brand strength. Basnet noted that operating the ATR aircraft to its full lifecycle represents a historic achievement for the airline.
Teknath Sitaula, General Manager at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, credited Buddha Air’s strong safety culture, maintenance standards, and operational management for enabling the aircraft to successfully complete its full lifecycle in service.
Stefano Marazzani, Senior Vice President of ATR, also praised the partnership with Buddha Air, stating that the aircraft was able to serve safely until its final flight thanks to proper operational management, a strong technical ecosystem, and the airline’s commitment to safety.
The retirement follows Buddha Air’s phase out of its ATR 42 fleet in September 2024 as the airline gradually modernizes its turboprop operations.
Buddha Air currently operates domestic flights across Nepal and runs direct services from Pokhara to Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, and Bharatpur. Internationally, the airline operates cross border flights to the Indian cities of Varanasi and Kolkata.
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