Himalaya Airlines’ Historic ascent of Mt. Everest

Himalaya Airlines Mount Everest Expedition Team comprising of its Senior Flight Attendant, Miss Omnika Dangol made a historic ascent of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain on May 16, 2022. From the Newar Community, Ms. Omnika Dangol, the flight attendant of Himalaya Airlines summited the 8848.86 meters high Mount Everest at 07:30 am local time on Monday with the expedition team of Thamserku Treks and Expeditions.  Ms. Dangol safely returned to Kathmandu on May 20, 2022, and was warmly welcomed by the Himalaya team at their Head Office, Gairidhara.

The airlines arranged a welcome program wherein the President of Himalaya Airlines, Mr. Zhou Enyong along with the H9 team received Ms. Dangol and celebrated the glorious moment together. Congratulating the team, he said, “This is a very significant project for us. We are glad that Ms. Omnika Dangol successfully scaled the highest peak with Himalaya’s flag and has safely returned. This project involved a lot of risks and challenges, and I was worried about her safety every day. But as our team was thoroughly prepared and determined I was confident that this project will be a success. It is indeed a well-deserved achievement for Himalaya Airlines. It signifies the spirit of persistence that H9 always believes in.”

To promote tourism in Nepal, Himalaya initiated its historic project “Himalaya Airlines Everest Expedition by Flight Attendant”. Since then, the airline had been vigorously engaged in its preparation with its flight attendant Ms. Dangol to successfully scale the world’s highest peak. Ms. Dangol had previously climbed three peaks – Mera, Island, and Lobuche.

This Everest expedition project is a symbolic representation of the Himalayas’ perseverance and courage despite the extreme conditions. Over the years, Himalaya had to face many challenges and hurdles which were overcome with strong will and determination.

Mr. Vijay Shrestha, Vice President, Himalaya Airlines expressed, “One of the key purposes of Himalaya Airlines is to promote Nepalese tourism and this project is a small step by H9 in promoting Nepalese tourism. We congratulate the team on the accomplishment of the project.”

Upon completion of the project, Ms. Omnika Dangol added, “Being able to represent Himalaya Airlines atop the highest peak was a proud moment for me. There had been numerous challenges throughout my journey but my focus had always been on reaching the top. I am thankful to Himalaya Airlines for giving me this opportunity for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”  Himalaya’s Everest Expedition began on April 13, 2022, on the eve of Nepali New year, and was concluded with the successful summit on May 16, 2022.

Himalaya Airlines (H9) a Nepal – China joint venture was established in 2014, with two core objectives; to promote people-to-people contact with Nepal with the other countries and to promote Nepal’s trade and tourism.

H9 is the joint alliance between Tibet Aviation Development & Investment Company Ltd. (TADIC) from Tibet Autonomous Region of The People’s Republic of China and Yeti World Investment Pvt. Ltd. of Kathmandu, Nepal.

Within a short span of seven years of establishment, H9 acquired 4 aircraft in its fleet; three Airbus 320-214 configured with 180 all-economy seats and one Airbus 319-115 with 120 economy and 8 business seats. H9 is currently operating passenger flights to prominent countries in the Middle East & South Asia: UAE, Malaysia, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh whereas cargo flights are exclusive to & from China.

In the first year of commercial operations, H9 received the international award for “Leading New International Airlines in South Asia” at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2017.

In August 2020, Himalaya Airlines secured its first ISO 9001:2015 certification for Quality Management Systems (QMS) confirming Himalaya Airlines’ competency in providing Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering services in line with the Airline’s vision of offering the highest possible standards in every area of its operation.

On December 29, 2021, Himalaya Airlines became the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. The airlines received the certificate in recognition of the organization’s Quality Management System (QMS) complying with ISO 9001-2015.  The ISO certificate has been earned for “Providing Air Transport for Traveling Passengers and Freight, including Aviation Related Training Services.”  The achievement demonstrates the team’s dedication to high-performance work practices and a confirmation of the airline’s ongoing commitment to quality.                       

To ensure flying with Himalaya is safer than ever before, starting Feb 2022, Himalaya Airlines introduced Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) a life-saving device onboard it’s fleet. With this, Himalaya Airlines stands to be the first-ever and the only Nepalese airline to carry AEDs onboard. To excel in safety, on-time performance (OTP), and most primarily, in service to its customers, H9 has established itself as a trusted airline of choice and aspires to rise as a leading airline in South Asia.