Nepal Airlines to take off to Osaka after 12 years

The national flag carrier is resuming its flights to Japan after 12 years from tomorrow morning. The Airbus A330-200 series aircraft will be taking off at 2:30am on Thursday from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to Osaka International Airport. The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will fly to Osaka with 130 passengers – 90 commercial passengers and remaining 40 are representatives from NAC and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation – according to the NAC spokesperson Ganesh Kumar Chand, who will be flying to Osaka with State Minister for tourism Dhan Bahadur Budha, joint secretary Suresh Acharya and six lawmakers.
NAC is offering Rs 36,999 per person for a one-way ticket to Osaka as a promotional offer, whereas roundtrip fare is fixed at Rs 72,814 per person, including value added tax (VAT), he said, adding that the NAC is flying three days a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – to Osaka. “It takes around six-and-a-half hours to reach Osaka from Kathmandu, whereas it will take around 8 eight hours to fly back to Kathmandu from Osaka.”
The NAC will operate direct passenger flights to Osaka with the Airbus A330-200.
Earlier, the NAC used to operate commercial flights on Kathmandu-Osaka route via Beijing twice a week between 1994 and 2007. But lack of aircraft, rising fuel price and lack of human resources forced the national flag carrier to halt the service 12 years ago. Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) permitted the corporation to resume its flight to Osaka after Nepal and Japan signed the Exchange of Notes on revising the Air Service Agreement (ASA) earlier this year.
Though, NAC had been planning to operate the Osaka flights from July 5, it started flights in August due to low flow of passengers till July-end. NAC, however, used to suspend flights to Japan during monsoon season when passenger flow declines 12 years ago too.
The NAC has targeted to fly some 63,000 Japanese tourists this year, according to the national flag carrier that is also preparing to operate direct flights to China and Saudi Arabia soon.
Currently, the national flag carrier is operating flights to 10 cities – including Dubai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Qatar and Osaka – of 8 countries with its 2 narrow-body and 2 wide-body Airbus.

NAC to auction second Boeing 757 aircraft

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has decided to auction its Boeing 757 aircraft.
The board meeting of the NAC – on March 15 – took the decision to auction the remaining one Boeing 757 aircraft that has been grounded for a long for maintenance, according to a board member.
Though, the NAC has earlier planned to repair and operate the aircraft, the maintenance cost turned out to be expensive, he said, adding that the board is asking for suggestion with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). "After the ministry's approval, we will sell the aircraft like another one it had auctioned a year ago."
Saying that it has not received any request, the ministry has said that NAC does not need to take its approval for the auction as it is a sovereign organisation with authority to take decisions related to its welfare.
Earlier, when NAC auctioned the first Boeing 757 – 200 9N-ACA aircraft, it had not sought the ministry’s approval. Once the second Boeing is auctioned, NAC will have a fleet comprising 13 aircraft, of which two are chinese MA 60, four Y12E; two Airbus A320-200 narrow-body and two Airbus A330-200 wide-body and three Twin Otters. However, the Chinese aircraft are not in operation hitting the domestic share of the national flag carrier.

Government limits Airbus AS350 helicopter from carrying more than six people

The government has limited the Airbus-manufactured AS350 model helicopter to carry up to six people only.
The government has limited the number of passengers that Airbus-manufactured AS350 model helicopter can carry, after the fatal helicopter crash in Taplejung on February 27 that claimed lives of a minister, tourism entrepreneuer, aviation officials and pilot.
An Air Dynasty AS350 helicopter had crashed on February 27 in which then tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari lost his life along with five other passengers including two officials of the country’s aviation regulatory body and the pilot.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and Helicopter Society of Nepal signed an agreement yesterday to remove the seventh seat from all the helicopters of Airbus-manufactured AS350 model, after the fatal crash. Earlier, the AS350 model was being operated in a 6+1 seat format, which has now been changed to 5+1 seat format. Most of the chopper service providers have removed the seventh seat.
According to CAAN, the difficult geographical terrain of Nepal has made putting seven people on board the AS350 model chopper more risky when the helicopter is flying to hilly and mountainous areas. So the authority has decided to remove the seventh seat to make the chopper ride more safe. CAAN said it is also preparing guidelines for helicopter services for VIPs flights.

Airbus A220 makes maiden landing in Nepal

The newest addition to the Airbus family of commercial aircraft – the A220 – has made its first visit to Nepal as part of a world demonstration tour.
The A220-300, bearing airBaltic livery, went on display at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) yesterday and today. As part of its world demonstration tour, the jet touched down at the Zhuhai Airshow in China on November 5, according to the Airbus.
"The aircraft – formerly known as the CSeries –landed in Chengdu on November 9 and then toured Koh Samui in Thailand on November 10,"aircraft interiors marketing director of Airbus Christine De Gagne said, adding that the jet is scheduled to land in Istanbul, Turkey today evening. "It will then return to airBaltic’s base in Riga, Latvia on Wednesday."
According to Gagne, there have been more than 400 orders for the A220 family of aircraft. So far 43 A220-300s have been delivered, she said. "The aircraft can accommodate 145 passengers and offers exceptional performance, comfort and profitability and is well-suited for high altitude airports such as Kathmandu."
In October 2017, Airbus struck an agreement with Bombardier to become a partner and 50 per cent majority shareholder in the CSeries programme, with Bombardier and the Quebec, government’s investment arm, Investissement Québec, owning approximately 34 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.
The deal was finalised on July 1 and later the Airbus officially rebranded the CSeries as the A220. The A220 family comprises two models, the A220-100 (with 100-135 seats) and A220-300 (with 130-160 seats), formerly Bombardier’s CS100 and CS300.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PW1500G geared turbofan engines, the jet offers at least a 20 per cent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, the airbus said in a statement. With a range of up to 3,200 nautical miles (5,020-km), the A220 offers the performance of larger single aisle aircraft.
Its biggest customers are Delta Air Lines (75 aircraft), airBaltic (50 aircraft) and Air Canada (45 aircraft). The only airline customer in Asia is Korean Air, which has eight A220-300s in its fleet and two more on order.

Second wide body airbus of NAC lands at TIA

The second wide body Airbus A330-200 of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) today morning. The airbus – which has been given a call sign 9N-ALZ, was brought to Kathmandu straight from France following nine hours' flight, and has landed at 9 am.
Tourism secretary Krishna Prasad Devkota and other high-ranking officials of NAC welcomed the airbus with a water canon salute.
The A330-200 jet with the registration mark 9N-ALZ has been named Makalu. The arrival of the new airbus has put the ailing national flag carrier in the company of long-haul airlines. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the jet has a capacity of 274 passengers in two-class cabin configuration, including 18 in business class.
The NAC had brought its first long-range 274-seater-wide body airbus A330-200 jet in Kathmandu on June 28. With the two wide body airbus, the NAC is expected to regainits past glory and also the market share.
According to NAC, it would take at least three weeks to complete administrative formalities for the aircraft before it can make commercial flights. The national flag carrier plans to start the commercial flights by September.
The NAC has bought the two airbus with an investment of Rs 24 billion from a US-based brokerage firm AAR Corp.
NAC also said that it will use the new aircraft to operate flights to Australia, Japan, South Korea and Gulf countries as well as Europe.

A retired pilot revives crashed plane as aviation museum

A Turkish Airlines plane that crash landed at Kathmandu airport two years ago will be welcoming on board again not for a flight but as the first aviation museum in Kathmandu.
The Airbus A330 was carrying 224 passengers when it skidded off the runway at Kathmandu’s airport in March 2015, coming to a stop with its nose buried in the grassy verge on the edge of the tarmac. Though, no one was hurt, the crash shut Nepal’s only international airport for four days as technicians struggled to move the plane.
The aircraft was eventually dragged to a disused corner of the airport where it sat rusting for two years until Captain Bed Upreti had an innovative idea of turning it into a museum.
Upreti bought the metal carcass and has invested $600,000 to turn it into an aviation museum that he had done earlier also but in far western part of the country in Dhangadi.
In Dhangadi, he had turned an abandoned Fokker 100 into a museum, though smaller compard to the one he oa planning in Kathmandu.
Working only at night when the airport was closed, it took a team of engineers from Turkey six weeks to dismantle the plane into 10 pieces, before loading them onto trucks for the 500 metre journey across the road. It took another two months to put all the pieces back together. With all the seats stripped out of the belly of the plane, the new museum feels surprisingly spacious.
The business class section of the plane will feature a model of the Wright Brothers’ first aircraft – the first machine to successfully take to the sky – and in the tail there will be a cafe.
More than 150 miniature display planes will chart the history of aviation as well as the story of Nepal’s flying industry.
The museum will give a chance to people, who might never fly, to step into a plane, Upreti said, hoping that the museum will also inspire young minds to become pilots and engineers. 

NAC to buy European aircraft from US company

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) today selected an American Company to purchase 2 wide-body European aircraft.
The corporation will issue a letter of intent (LoI) to the American leasing company – AAR Corp – tomorrow to supply two-wide body Airbus A 330-200 aircraft, NAC managing director Sugat Ratna Kansakar informed. A letter of intent is a document expressing an intention to enter into a contract at a future date.
The NAC board – led by secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation – today unanimously agreed to award the supply contract to US-based AAR Corp.
The board has selected the lowest bidder – AAR Corp – which has proposed to supply each aircraft for $104.8 million, he said, adding that the negotiations with the supplier will be held very soon in Kathmandu. "The cost of the aircraft and delivery date will be finalised during the negotiations."
Kansakar said that the ‘offer price’ quoted by the company was not the final price as it may go up slightly up due to inflation when final contract negotiations are completed. "When the cost of the aircraft will be finalised, a purchase agreement will be signed after the negotiations."
"We will ask the supplier to come to Nepal as soon as possible to sign an initial memorandum of understanding (MoU),” he said, adding that the corporation has targeted concluding the MoU within two weeks so that it can begin detailed technical and financial negotiations. A technical team consisting of members of the two parties would be formed to hold detailed negotiations. The entire process could be completed within three to four weeks.
There were six bidders in the final round. The corporation board selected AAR Corp due to the appropriate rate it proposed and the credibility of the company. Though the bid evaluation committee had evaluated the proposals of 10 bidders, four did not qualify in the initial stage itself.
A notice inviting proposals from aircraft manufacturers, airlines, aircraft leasing companies and bankers for two Airbus A330-200 aircraft was issued on September 26. There were 11 hopeful suppliers, and the highest price quoted was $146 million.
The corporation has stipulated that the jets should not have more than 1,000 flight hours on them, and that the date of manufacture should not be before January 2014.
The AAR Corp has – in request of proposal – offered to deliver the first aircraft by September 2017 and the other by March 2018.
The supplier should include the cost of a minimum set of flight and maintenance crews for the duration of at least one year. It should also include the cost of consumable spares and tools required for day-to-day line maintenance up to the ‘A’ check level for a year.
The carrier has proposed procuring long-range jets to serve destinations in North America, Japan, Australia and the UK as they have been identified as prospective markets for Nepal over the next 20 years.
The corporation had purchased two Airbus A320-200 aircraft in 2015 by borrowing Rs 10 billion from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in its first fleet expansion in 27 years.
The national flag carrier currently has two narrow-body Airbus aircraft and one narrow-body Boeing aircraft in its international fleet. The fleet is flying to eight destinations. After addition of two wide-body aircraft, the corporation start flying on long haul destinations, as the average flight range of the A 330-200 series aircraft will be nine to 10 hours.
The national flag carrier is preparing to fly to Japan and South Korea with the new two wide-body aircraft that is expected to not only increase its market share but also recover its lost glory.
So far, the national flag carrier has received landing permit for Inchhan International Airport in South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Kansakar also informed that the corporation has also approached civil aviation authority of Japan to receive landing permit. "In the long run the corporation also plans to expand its network to Australia and Europe," he added.
Though, international lenders are ready to invest on corporation, the corporation has approached EPF and Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) for the loan to buy the two aircraft.
The corporation had – in the past too – borrowed from the EPF and CIT to purchase the two narrow-body Airbus aircraft. The government-owned financial institutions have been charging nine per cent interest rate from NAC. "But this time the corporation has also approached some private banks," Kansakar said, adding that the private financial institutions are positive about consortium financing. "They are expected to quote an interest rate that is lower than that of the government-owned financial institutions."
The government is giving guarantee for the loan that NAC is planning to obtain.
The corporation will soon finalise loan agreement with the government-owned financial institutions, as the supplier has been issued LoI and invited for negotiations," he added.

Himalaya Airlines to start regular flights to Yangon

Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture between Nepal and China, is planning to start direct flights from Kathmandu to Burma soon. The airline is planning to start the Kathmandu-Yangon flight by December.
Currently, around half million Nepali-speaking people live in Burma.
If domestic preparations and permit process goes as planned, the company will start operating flights from December, , according to an official from the airline. "This will help promote tourism industry in Nepal."
According to him, Yu Lu Bin, Myanmar ambassador to Nepal and vice-president of Himalaya Airlines Bijaya Shrestha recently discussed about the flight. "The company is ready for Kathmandu-Yangon flight,” the official said, adding that new aircraft would be added for direct flights.
Two weeks earlier, Ambassador Yu had said he would urge minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Bahadur Shahi to take the initiation for operating direct flights between the two countries.
Nepalis going to Burma for meditation and to be monk and Burmese coming to visit Lumbini are expected to be immensely benefited after direct flights come into operation.
Earlier, the airline had successfully launched its maiden flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 1 carrying passengers directly to the destination.
The direct flight to Colombo that resumed after almost three decades flies twice a week, according to Shrestha. "We consider this to be another milestone for us as this will make Himalaya Airlines the only airline with scheduled flights to Colombo from Kathmandu,” he said, adding that the company anticipates that majority of the passengers will be businessmen and tourists from the two countries.
Himalaya’s third destination will be India’s capital New Delhi, according to the company.
The airline is preparing to fly to Delhi from October 30.
Himalaya Airlines, a full-service carrier, was established in August 2014. It had started scheduled flights from May 31, flying directly to Doha, Qatar. Apart from the opening of the Kathmandu/Colombo/Kathmandu route, the airline plans to operate regular flights to other destinations: Delhi, Yangon, Dammam, Beijing, Lhasa, Chengdu, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Dubai.
The airline currently uses 158 seat capacity aircraft A320-214 series for its flight.
HIF Aviation Investment and Yeti World Investment Pvt Ltd have invested on Himalaya Airlines that has got permission to fly to 14 countries. Nepali company has 51.01 percent and Tibet Airlines has 48.99 percent investment in Himalaya Airlines.

Himalaya Airlines to fly Colombo from October 1

Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, is starting scheduled flight to Colombo from October 1.
The airline will fly its Airbus A320-214 – configured with eight Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats – on the new route, according to vice president-administration of Himalaya Airlines Vijay Shrestha.
Himalaya Airlines will fly to the Sri Lankan capital city three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It will depart from Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu at 1130 hours and will arrive in Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo at 1515 hours, according to Shrestha. "The flight leaves Colombo at 1615 hrs and arrives Kathmandu at 2015 hours on the same day,” he added.
“After an overwhelming response received from our two non-scheduled flights to Colombo, we found this route to be very potential," he said, adding, that the airlines has observed passenger traffic data between the two countries over the last several years before arriving at the decision to commence scheduled flights.
He also said that the airlines was pleased to be able to resume services to and from Colombo as it is an important market for tourism promotion of both countries. "Flying to this destination will definitely promote tourism between two nations as well as generate new business opportunities," Shrestha added.
The airline has appointed Classic Travel as its General Sales Agents (GSA). The company will be responsible for the airline's sales and marketing, market development, reservations and ticketing services representing, according to the statement.
Himalaya Airlines is offering one-way fare at Rs 29,191 for and roundtrip fare at Rs 50,041.
The fare is inclusive of all government taxes.
The airline started commercial flights on May 31, starting a direct flight to Doha, Qatar. It has plans to connect Kathmandu with New Delhi, Yangon, Dammam, Beijing, Lhasa, Chengdu, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Dubai.
Tibet Airlines owns 48.99 percent of stakes in the airline, while the remaining 51.01 per cent are held by a consortium of Nepali investors.

After Finance Ministry green signal, NAC to buy two widebody jets

If everything goes as planned, national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will have a new Airbus in its fleet by next September. "We are planning to bring one wide body aircraft by September 2017 while a second one will arrive by April 2018," said Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) managing director Sugat Ratna Kansakar.
The national flag carrier is planning to call a tender for two wide body aircraft by December and sign the aircraft purchase agreement by March 2017, he said, adding that the plan appeared possible after finance minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara today promised the NAC team led by tourism minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi that he would table the proposal in the cabinet soon.
"Finance Minister Mahara has promised to take the proposal to the cabinet to secure the government's guarantee," he added.
NAC had long been seeking government guarantee to purchase two wide body aircraft and expand in the international market. Currently, the national flag carrier flies to eight international destinations including three Indian cities, and it plans to expand to Guangzhou, China soon. The new wide body aircraft will help NAC start non-stop flights to London, Kansakar added.
We will be borrowing Rs 25 billion from the Citizens Investment Trust (CIT) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) after the government's guarantee, Kansakar said. "Details of the borrowing plan are being worked out."
NAC has already borrowed Rs 10 billion from EPF for the purchase of two Airbus aircraft last year. The details for fresh borrowing will be worked out by the board and the nitty-gritty of the procurement finalised, he added.
The national flag carrier is planning to phase out its ageing Boeing 757s and run an all-Airbus fleet. The induction of two new jets will bring the number of Airbus aircraft with NAC to four. The Airbus 330 can accommodate up to 280 passengers and serve long-haul destinations like the UK, Japan and Australia.
NAC currently has five different types of aircraft – Boeing, Airbus, Twin Otter, MA60 and Y12e – in its fleet and this has made it difficult to manage different sets of pilots, engineers and spare parts.
The current fiscal year budget has also promised funds for the national carrier to buy the widebodies. NAC's market share on the international routes stood at 7.88 per cent in 2015, up from 5.87 per cent in 2014. Two new Airbus aircraft is expected to double the market share.
The Plan
• To fly non-stop on Kathmandu-London-Kathmandu route
• First widebody likely ro arrive by September 2017
• Second one by April 2018

NAC adds second Airbus, names Lumbini

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) today received its second Airbus.
The second of the two Airbus A320-200 aircrafts ordered by the national flag carrier has landed at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu today early morning, said spokesperson of NAC Ram Hari Sharma.
The aircraft named 'Lumbini' landed at the TIA at 6:40 am, he said, adding that the aircraft has flown to Kathmandu via Doha from German. " A flight instructor from Airbus and an NAC pilot flew the aircraft from Hamburg in Germany via Doha to Kathmandu."
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has given 9N-AKX call sign to the new aircraft that will start commercial operations after getting clearance from the regulatory authority.
"The aircraft will go through regular procedure like payment of customs duty to the government and obtaining air operators certificate (AOC) from the CAAN before it will start its commercial operation," Sharma added. "NAC will begin the registration procedures first."
The first – Airbus 'Sagarmatha' – of the two Airbuses arrived on February 8. It had started its commercial operation from February 27 from New Delhi. Sagarmatha was welcomed with a colourful fanfare. However, Lumbini has been welcomed silently as the country is mourning the loss of thousands people, who died due to Saturday's devastating earthquake. But NAC chairman Ram Sharan Neupane and acting general manager Ganesh Bahadur Chand welcomed the Airbus that had 18 passengers, including crew members, four German doctors, two nurses, two representatives of the German organisation and two journalists from Hamburg to Kathmandu.
The aircraft has but also brought in a medical team and relief materials. According to NAC, four doctors, two nurses, two observers and two journalists were on board the aircraft besides the Nepali team which went to Germany to receive the aircraft.
The Airbus Foundation, Humedica – a German NGO – and NAC used the flight to transport relief materials and medical team to provide aid to the victims. The aircraft has brought five tonnes of relief supply including 3.3 tonnes of medicine. The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus teamed up with German relief organisation Humedica to help send the aid t Nepal.
Likewise, a five member team consisting of director of NAC's Quality Assurance and Flight Safety Department Rabin Pradhan, director of Engineering Department Karna Bahadur Thapa, Project Coordinator Prabhas Karmacharya, Engineer Pawan Kumar Karwal and chief of CAAN's Airworthiness Division Bhesh Raj Subedi had gone to Germany on April 22 to receive the aircraft.
The national flag carrier has now four aircraft – two Airbus and two Boeings – in its international fleet. The NAC had started the process to acquire aircraft for international operation six years ago. But it got delayed due to controversy. NAC finally signed purchase agreement with Airbus for two aircraft on June 27, 2013. The catalogue price of Airbus A320-200 is around Rs 15 billion. But the Airbus is providing free training to NAC's engineers and pilots according to the agreement.
NAC had borrowed Rs 10 billion from from Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) at a fixed interest rate of 12 per cent per annum. The NAC will pay back the loan within 15 years, according to the agreement.
Powered by engines made by US-based International Aero Engines both the Airbus A320 aircraft has a capacity of 158 seats, including eight for business class and the rest for economy class. But NAC’s two aage-old Boeings 757 — Gandaki and Karnali — have a seat capacity for 190 passengers.
With the second Airbus, NAC will now add more international destinations including Bangalore in India and Guangzhau in China, Sharma informed. But the corporation has been facing shortage of pilots to fly the Airbus.

Sagarmatha lands at TIA, NAC gets first Airbus

The ailing national flag carrier today added Airbus A320-200 aircraft – after 27 years – to its international fleet.
Nepal Airlines Corporation's (NAC) new aircraft 'Sagarmatha' landed here today at 4.31 evening amid a huge fanfare at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The aircraft with the call sign 9N-AKW was welcomed by water cannon salute, traditional music and dance.
As the aircraft neared the hanger, the crowd – including European diplomats, NAC and CAAN staff – cheered, a Pandit chanted Sanskrit mantras and the cameras started flashing..
After Tourism and Civil Aviation minister Deepak Chandra Amatya-led team of 18 – including NAC chair Shiva Sharan Neupane, managing director Madan Kharel and engineers from NAC and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) – got off the aircraft, they also received a grand applause.
The Airbus A320-200 aircraft yesterday started its maiden flight from the Airbus plant in Hamburg of Germany and landed at Kathmandu today after a stopover in the Qatari Capital Doha for over a night.
The first of the two Airbus – purchased by the NAC from French Airbus Company – has 158-seat with eight seats in business class. It was flown into Kathmandu by Airbus pilot and Captain Shrawan Rijal.
NAC had sent six pilots for necessary training and orientation to fly the Airbus – as they have been flying Boeings 757 for last more than two-and-ahalf-decade – to France. But three of them returned without completing the training, and Captain Rijal and RP Dhakal are still under orientation. They need to complete 50 hours of flight before taking a complete charge by themselves, he added. "The corporation will train more captains and co-pilots."
The second Airbus will arrive within April, he informed.
"The arrival of the new aircraft will help the ailing national flag carrier add new international routes," he said, adding that the first destination of the aircraft will be New Delhi on February 25.
The corporation had cancelled flights to New Delhi – the most profitable sector – and Dubai after one of its two ageing Boeing 757s – Gandaki and Karnali acquired in 1987 and 1988 – started facing regular technical glitch.
Currently, Nepal Airlines operates flights to only four international destinations – Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong sectors – with the two age-old Boeings. Due to lack of aircraft, the corporation has been fast losing its international market share that plunged to less than 3 per cent.
"We are hopeful that the arrival of the new aircraft will help increase NAC's market share," he said, adding that the corporation has already unveiled a 10-year plan hoping to restore our lost glory. "In the second phase, NAC plans to start flights to Guangzhou, Dubai, Mumbai and Bangalore."
Currently, some 28 international airlines fly to Kathmandu but still Kathmandu is expensive destination for foreigners shying them away to cheaper destinations. "The new addition will also help NAC enhance both its service delivery and competence level," he added. "We aim to add more aircraft to our international fleet in the future,” Kharel said, indicating to the corporation’s plan to purchase even a wide-body aircraft in the future.
Likewise, Airbus’s vice-president for customer affairs David Dufrenois, on the occasion, said that he had never seen such encouraging welcome. "It is new partnership for Airbus," he said, hoping to have an extended partnership with NAC in the days to come.
NAC had signed purchase agreement with Airbus for two aircraft on June 27, 2013. Kharel and Sheel Sukla, senior sales director of Airbus, had signed the agreement after a long debate and legal hurdles.
Though, the corporation had started process to acquire aircraft for international operation some six years ago international bidding, it was stuck between the corporate rivelary between the American company Boeing and European company Airbus.
The then managing director of the corporation Sugat Ratna Kansakar was blamed for pre-paying Airbus 'illegally' and sent to jail by the anti-corruption watchdog, Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). But the court dismissed the charges against Kansakar and paved the way for NAC to move ahead with the agreement with European company Airbus.
However, legal delay has cost the corporation more due to price escalation. The NAC has made a full payment of Rs 7.20 billion, Kharel said, adding that the NAC has also made pre-payment for the second Airbus.
The catalogue price of two Airbus A320-200 is around Rs 15 billion. As part of the agreement, Airbus is providing free training to NAC´s engineers and pilots.
NAC has borrowed Rs 10 billion from Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) at 12 per cent interest per annum to finance purchase of the aircraft. According to the agreement, NAC has to pay back the loan within 15 years. The payment calendar starts after the corporation starts operation of the new aircraft.
Similarly, on the occasion, minister Amatya said that the rapid expansion of global tourism market has made it necessary for Nepal to enhance quality of aviation service by making more punctual and credible. "We have emphasised the importance of 'air safety' and prioritised it in our policy,” he added.
The newly acquired A320 has wing tip devices, which, according to Airbus, will deliver unbeatable economics and up to four per cent reduction in fuel burn. It is fitted with twin V2500-A5 SelectOne engines, the aircraft has 158 seats including eight in business class. The aircraft is fitted with fuel-saving winglets, named Sharklet by Airbus, that reduces fuel burn by up to four per cent. Likewise, it has the state-of-the-art Required Navigation Performance (RVP) technologies that allows the aircraft to fly precisely along predefined routes that is beneficial for operations at high altitude airports like Kathmandu. The aircraft is a member of the Airbus' benchmark single-aisle aircraft family, A320 is one of the best selling commercial jetliners. Airbus has built 6,415 A320s as of January 30.
Regular political bickering in the national flag carrier by the post-1990 government made the NAC lose its credibility. The NAC that currently operates a fleet of two ageing Boeing 757 on international route, also has recently acquired one MA 60 and one Harbin Y12E from china, apart from two Twin Otters on domestic routes. It is adding four more China-made aircrafts for its domestic fleet.

NAC signs deal with IAE

The national flag carrier has signed its first order – a week ago – with IAE International Aero Engines AG to supply V2500-A5 SelectOne engines to power the two A320ceo aircraft it has ordered plus options for two additional aircraft.

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is going to take the delivery of the aircraft in 2015.

"Given Nepal’s mountainous terrain, we chose V2500 SelectOne engines because of their long-standing reputation as both reliable and fuel-efficient power plants,” said managing director of Nepal Airlines Corporation Madan Kharel in a statement.

"These engines will help us continue providing reliable air transport to our customers," he added.

"We are proud that Nepal Airlines Corporation selected V2500 engines for their A320ceo aircraft,” said president of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines Dave Brantner. "This is their first order for V2500 engines, and we look forward to establishing a long relationship with them," he added.

IAE is a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders are comprised of Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines.

To date, more than 5,900 V2500(R) engines have been delivered to close to 200 customers around the world.

The ailing national flag carrier had on June 18, 2013 signed Rs 10 billion loan agreement with the Employees’ Provident Fund to buy the two Airbus aircraft.

Earlier, the corporation, had confirmed – after a long debate – the order for teo Airbus A320-200 aircraft purchase on June 27, 2013

The corporation currently has two age-old Boeing 757 planes that fly to some four international destinations.

National flag carrier to change livery

The national flag carrier is going to change its 26-year-old livery to re-brand itself.

Nepal Airlines Corporation today asked designers to take part in a free competition to design a new livery that will reflect the country's nationality, religion, national flag, colour. "But the current image of Akash Bhairav should also be in the new design," said the corporation that has been finding it hard to maintain its image in recent years due to lack of aircraft and also mismanagement fuelled by the red tape.

Introduced in 1987, the current insignia features red and blue stripes – the colours from the national flag – on the aircraft's tail with Nepal Airlines written in blue, along with a Hindu deity Akash Bhairav, the protector of the sky. Before 1987, the aircraft used to have national flag painted on its tail.

 Though, a new livery might give a boost to the ailing national flag carrier image but it needs to improve its customer service and maintain the flight schedule time to improve its reputation.

But the airlines is hopeful of improving its image with the arrival of its new aircraft from the European aircraft maker Airbus. "The new aircraft with new insignia might help boost not only the airlines reputation but also financial health," according to the airlines that has signed a aircraft purchase agreement with the European plane maker to buy two Airbus A320-200 jets on June 27.

According to the agreement, the Airbus will deliver the first aircraft in February 2015 and the second one in April 2015.

Likewise, the NAC is adding new aircraft in its domestic fleet buying six aircraft from China that has pledged to provide a 19-seater Harbin Y-12e and a 58-seater MA60 (Modern Ark 60) turboprop as gifts.

However, the government plans to buy four more aircraft – three Harbin Y-12e and an MA60 – with soft loan from China EXIM Bank.

Currently, the airlines has two age-old Boeing 757s serving four international destinations and a single Twin Otter serving remote sectors.

Airlines operators ask to revise aircraft policy

The airlines operators have asked the government to revise its policy on the import of older aircraft. The government policy encourages the purchasing or leasing of aircraft newer than 5 years old, but operators and experts say that none of the airlines can afford to buy a Twin Otter that costs at around $7 million to operate in remote sectors. The government restricts the import of non-pressurised aircraft like helicopters and single-engine planes that are more than 20 years old. The country's aviation safety record is on IATA radar due to increasing air crash.

NAC resumes flights with both the aircraft

The ailing national flag carrier’s both Boeings are flying from today, claimed Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).

“With the Boeing 757 ACA that has resumed its daily flight from today – after being grounded for last three days – both the Boeings are in operations,” it said.

The aircraft – Boeing 757 ACA – was grounded for last three days due to failure of its Flight Management Computer equipment, though it has just returned from the regular comprehensive check on August 4,” it said, adding that the maintenance of Flight Management Computer equipment doesnot cone under the regular C Check. “The aircraft had returned immediately after one hour of its take off en route Hong Kong with 160 passengers on board August 13.”

The corporation brought the equipment required for the maintenance of the Flight Management Computer from the US in Thai Airways, according to the corporation.
The NAC that had been forced to cut down the profitable sectors due to lack of aircraft, is expecting to revive after it gets its new aircraft from Airbus in 2015.