Nepal Airlines starts regular flights to Saudi Arabia

The national flag carrier has started its regular flights to Saudi Arabia, for the first time.

The , Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) wide body A330 aircraft made its inaugural flight to Riyadh today.

During the inauguration programme, executive chairman of NAC Yuvraj Adhikari said that the historic flight to Riyadh has been launched overcoming various obstacles.

The inaugural flight was attended by Adhikari, senior officials of various ministries, representatives of various departments and businessmen. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had recently given permission to NAC to operate flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The one-way fare for Kathmandu-Riyadh has been fixed at Rs 37,000, informed the national flag carrier. “Only one-way fares have been fixed,” according to the NAC. “The NAC has received a slot for both wide body and narrow body ships to fly to Saudi Arabia.”

The one-way flight from Kathmandu to Riyadh will take six hours and 15 minutes but the Riyadh-Kathmandu flight will take only four hours and 50 minutes.

Government cuts civil servants’ fuel allowances by 20 per cent

To reduce the fuel imports, the government has cut down fuel allowances of civil servants by 20 per cent. The reduction of import of petroleum products is expected to put less pressure to the depleting foreign currency reserves.

The Finance Ministry, sending a circular to all government offices on Monday, said that it is trying to reduce expenses incurred on fuel from Monday till three months, throughout the current fiscal year.

The ministry press note  reads that a cabinet meeting on Wednesday had decided to cut the expenses on petroleum products of all the government offices and public enterprises. 

The government move is expected to cut down the expenses on fuel to save the foreign currency reserve. “The government offices will have to spend only 80 per cent of their fuel budget,” a Finance Ministry source claimed, adding that the provision will, however, not applicable for the development projects, securities, essential services and those part of the local elections.

The government currently provides 207 liters of fuel to minister-level, 100 liters each to secretaries and 70 liters for joint secretary-level government employees. Nepal has imported around 200 billion worth petroleum products from India. But with increasing petroleum prices due to Russia-Ukraine war, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is bankrupt also due to free fuel to various former ministers and political cadres.

Nepal Airlines to start regular flights to Saudi Arabia from April 22

 The national flag carrier is flying to Saudi Arabia on a regular basis, for the first time, from April 22.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has already permitted Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to operate flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the authority confirmed.

The NAC is starting regular flights on Kathmandu-Riyadh-Kathmandu sector according to its business plan, the national flag carrier also confirmed, adding that it had been preparing to fly on the route for a quite long time but was not granted permission.

Earlier, only a private airliner, Himalayan Airlines, was allowed to operate flights to Saudi Arabia. Now that the NAC has regular flights, it is expected the fare on the route to come down to benefit the passengers.

Home ministry forms committee to investigate TIA case

After 4 days, the government today formed a probe team to investigate an incident, relating to a man sneaking through three layers of security and boarded an aircraft parked on the tarmac of Tribhuvan International Airport without any documents.

Despite a slew of checking process and three layers of security, the person, without a passport and a visa, reached the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) aircraft, when it was about to take off for Doha from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Describing the incident highly sensitive in terms of security, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to bring it under investigation, a press note issued by the ministry today reads, adding that the incident had grabbed its serious attention.

The probe team will assess the security of the international airport, work allocations of several securities bodies, possible weaknesses, and ways for improvement, the press note further reads, adding that the nine-member probe team has been formed under the coordination of director-general of Department of Immigration Narayan Prasad Bhattarai

According to joint secretary and spokesperson of the ministry Phanidramani Pokhrel, the probe team will submit its report within seven days. 

The international airport that is heavily guarded by the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Police but Monday’s incident has left everyone wondering how a person managed to breach the three layers of security to reach the sensitive area. The man was arrested and police have identified him as Haspam Alam of Rautahat. 

According to Nepal Airlines, on February 21 night, Alam was found seated in the business class of an Airbus A330 aircraft, registration number 9N-ALY, which was preparing to fly to Doha. 

After the incident, Nepal Airlines suspended Dhruvaraj Thapa, security commander of Nepal Airlines.

Sri Lankan Airlines to connect Colombo and Kathmandu with direct flights from Tuesday

Sri Lankan Airlines is connecting Colombo with Kathmandu with its direct flights from Tuesday.

Sri Lankan ambassador to Nepal Himalee Arunatilaka tweeted that Sri Lankan Airlines is starting direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu starting August 31. "To all those friends in Nepal, who have been asking me when direct flights will starts; it's happening on 31 August 2021," she tweeted today.

The airline flies twice a week connecting the island nation to the Himalayan nation. The direct flight between the two countries is expected to boost tourism and enhance people-to-people contact between the two countries. The direct flight is expected to promote Buddhist pilgrimage between the two countries once the Covid-19 situation becomes normal. "The starting fare begins from $599 one-way," according to the Zenith Travels, the general sales agent of the airline in Kathmandu.

The two capitals of the South Asian nations have been connected after a hiatus of four decades though this is the first time a Sri Lankan Airlines is connecting Colombo with Kathmandu with its direct commercial flights.

The then Royal Nepal Airlines (RNAC) and current Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) used to operate regular direct flights on Kathmandu-Colombo-Kathmandu sector some four decades ago during the 1980s. But the flights were suspended as they were not commercially viable.

Similarly, Himalaya Airlines also used to connect Kathmandu with Colombo for a brief period in 2016, and this too stopped as the flights were not commercially viable due to low passenger volume. In March 2015, Mihin Lanka also planned to start direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu but the proposed flights could not start.

In 2019 -- before the Covid-19 pandemic -- Nepal received 1.2 million international tourists, and out of the total, some 55,869 Sri Lankan tourists visited Nepal, according to Tourism Ministry. "In 2018, some 69,640 Sri Lankan tourists visited Nepal."

Likewise, some 97.5 per cent of the Sri Lankan visitors entered Nepal overland from Bhairahawa to visit Buddhist sites in Lumbini. Once the Gautam Buddha Airport in Lumbini us operational, it is expected to connect Colombo and Lumbini for the Buddhist tourists from Lanka.

"The civil aviation regulator has approved the Sri Lankan Airlines flights effective from August 31," the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) confirmed. "Sri Lankan Airlines will operate 158-seater Airbus A320 aircraft that will arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 9:40 am and depart to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo at 10:40 am."

The passengers need to furnish evidence of hotel booking for 7 days quarantine before boarding the flight to Nepal. Likewise, they will require a negative PCR test report for Covid-19, according to the health protocal. "The test should be conducted 72 hours prior to arrival."

Likewise, as per the travel protocol of Sri Lanka, fully vaccinated travellers are not required to stay in quarantine. They are required to stay at a certified safe and secure hotel until the on-arrival PCR test is performed -- for some 24 hours to 48 hours.

China to provide 20,000 oxygen cylinders, 400 to come on Tuesday

 The government is bringing 400 empty oxygen cylinders from China through air Monday.

According to a press not issued by deputy prime minister Ishwar Pokhrel, a meeting of the Covid -19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) held Friday, under the chair of its coordinator and deputy prime minister Ishwar Pokhrel, decided to bring 400 cylinders, out of 20,000, in the first phase, from China.

Nepal Airlines Corporation's (NAC) wide body aircraft will leave for China on May 10 to bring the cylinders, the press note reads, adding that China has decided to provide 20,000 empty oxygen cylinders to Nepal as the country is struggling with shortage of oxygen cylinder due to massive spread of second wave of Covid-19. The government has requested China to provide the oxygen cylinder.

Of the agreed assistance, some 2,000 cylinders will be brought by air and remaining 18,000 will be brought via land route, the press note reads.

A wide-body aircraft of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is flying to Beijing, China on Monday to bring some health equipment and oxygen cylinders, confirmed the national flag carrier. "The wide-body A 330 of the NAC will fly to Beijing to get oxygen and ventilators provided on a grant by China," the NAC said, adding that it will be bringing 400 units of oxygen cylinders and 20 units of ventilators. "The flight is scheduled to take off for Beijing at 11:30 am on Monday and will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 2:35 om on Tuesday."

Quarantine hotels for passengers from India

The government has shortlisted eight hotels in the valley to accommodate passengers coming to Nepal from India.

As the government has halted operation of most international flights from midnight of May 6, it has allowed flights to and from India. The government has shortlisted eight hotels to quarantine passengers arriving from India, according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). "The air travellers from India will have to stay quarantined in the designated eight hotels only."

The ministry has shortlisted View Bhrikuti Hotel at Godavari, Madhav Hotel at Guheswari, Airport Hotel at Gaushala, Amadablam Hotel at Gaushala, Readers Inn at Gaushala, Ananda Ashram at Gaushala and A-One Resort at Jagati for hotel quarantine. The hotels have allocated between 10 and 91 rooms in their facility for the quarantine of the passengers.

According to the ministry, these hotels will transport passengers from the airport as well as provide food and accommodation at Rs 3000. "The hotels have been instructed to charge Rs 3,000 per person, including value added tax (VAT) and service charges," the ministry said, adding that Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), in coordination with the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and Air India, has been assigned the responsibility of collecting the details of the passengers and assisting in quarantine management of the passengers. "Passengers from India must stay in quarantine for 10 days."

If they're found to be not abiding by the rules, the hotels will have to report them to the police.

though, the government has stopped the international and domestic flights, there will be emergency flight as and when required.

After nine months, Kathmandu-New Delhi flight resumes

 Kathmandu-New Delhi air services resumed from today after nine months under an air bubble arrangement.

The Nepal-India flight services were suspended for the past nine months due to Covid-19 restrictions. “A narrow body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines Corporation took off carrying some 141 passengers towards New Delhi in the morning and returned with 111 passengers in the evening,” confirmed NAC. “The NAC carrier is scheduled to return to Kathmandu today.”

The national flag carrier has flown to New Delhi with 135 economy class passengers and six business class passengers, it said, adding that the occupancy of first flight that resumed after nine months is encouraging. “Resumption of flights to two other destinations in India are expected to operate soon.”

Nepalis and Indians flying to each other's countries are not required to undergo quarantine, if they have a negative virus test report of less than 72 hours ago the departure, according to the NAC that has been operating international flights at nine destinations of seven countries including three in India.

The domestic carrier flies to two other Indian destinations – Mumbai and Bangalore – apart from New Delhi. But it will take some time to start the flights to remaining two destinations in India.

“As cases of fake RT-PCR reports have been rising, the carrier has made it mandatory for travellers to bring the original report that is stamped or certified by the lab, the national flag carrier informed, adding that Nepalis travelling to India are not required to undergo a two-week quarantine, and Indians coming to Nepal are also not required to undergo a seven-day hotel quarantine, according to the circulars issued by the two governments under the air bubble arrangement. 

After the flights were suspended on March 23, the government had resumed international flights from September 1. But the government has decided to start the Kathmandu-New Delhi flights – two weeks ago – under ‘Transport Bubble Mechanism’. 

According to the guidelines for international arrivals issued by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, all travellers should submit a self-declaration form on the online portal at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel or physically after arrival at the respective health counters.

Under the air bubble arrangement which allows airlines of the two countries to operate services between them by complying with safety protocols, two daily flights will be conducted between Kathmandu and New Delhi initially, one each by Nepal Airlines and Air India. While Nepal Airlines began its service today, the Indian carrier has postponed the launch till next week The Air India flights will start from December 24.

According to the air bubble arrangement, flights to India can carry Indians and Nepalis, and Overseas Citizen of India cardholders and Person of Indian Origin cardholders holding passports of any country. Flights from India to Kathmandu can carry Indian and Nepali nationals. “Third country nationals including diplomats intending to travel to India for any purpose and their dependents will also be allowed under certain conditions.”

India has signed air bubble agreements with 22 countries globally. In South Asia, it has air bubble agreements with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, while India has proposed air bubble agreement with Nepal.

Kathmandu-New Delhi flights to resume soon

After nine months the flights between Kathmandu and New Delhi are resuming soon.

“Flights between Nepal and India are set to resume from next seven to 10 days,” confirmed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA).

The ministry has started preparations to permit operation of Kathmandu-New Delhi-Kathmandu flights from next week, joint secretary at the ministry Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane said, adding that the ministry has started necessary home works to resume flights, which were halted since March due to the risk of Covid-19 pandemic. 

India has sent a concept of air-bubble through the diplomatic channels to resume the flights. “The ministry is reviewing the concept of 'air bubble' that India sent through the diplomatic channel,” he said, adding that the ministry is working on dates to operate the flights. “The airlines of both the countries would be asked to make necessary preparations to resume the flights.” 

According to the air bubble concept only the nationals of Nepal and India can get permission to fly on New Delhi-Kathmandu flight. India has signed air bubble agreement with 16 countries including Afghanistan and Maldives in South Asia, and has also sent a proposal to Nepal also. 

In the beginning, only two flights – one each from Nepal and India – will be allowed to operate. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will operate from Nepal and Air India will operate from India in the first phase, the ministry informed. “The number of flights will be increased based on demand later.”

The government has already resumed the regular international flights, except from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Thailand, from September 1 after they were halted nearly six months ago following the nationwide lockdown imposed throughout the country on March 24. “The flights to the three destinations in Indian cities – New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore – have been halted due to the increasing rate of Covid-19 infection in India.

A Cabinet meeting on November 25 had decided to accept the 'air bubble model' proposed by India regarding resumption of flights between Kathmandu and New Delhi. The cabinet had decided to grant permission to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to study and start the resumption of flights based on the need. However, the flights could be started only after the regulatory bodies of both Nepal and India, together prepare the flight standards.

Currently, some 29 airlines, including three from Nepal, are operating the international flights in various destinations of 16 countries. 

However, the number of international fights has decreased in recent days, according to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). “In the beginning – when the international flights were opened on September 1 – there used to be up to 25 flights to various international destinations on a daily basis,” the TIA informed, adding that the number of international flights is hardly 20 – including arrival and departure – per day at present. “The number of international flights has decreased instead of increasing due to lack of passengers.”

What is air bubble agreement
'Transport Bubbles' or 'Air Travel Arrangements' are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits. 

NAC urges authorised labs to take caution as passengers test positive in foreign land

 Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has asked all the health institutions and laboratories – authorised by the government to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests – to take caution as some of the passengers travelling to foreign destinations with negative PCR reports have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in foreign land.

The national flag carrier – issuing a press note – appealed the authorised health institutions and laboratories to carry out lab tests maintaining prescribed standards. The NAC has implemented rules according to which passengers have to produce negative PCR reports issued within 72 hours before taking the flight. But as a few passengers, who boarded NAC flights showing negative PCR reports have tested positive for Covid-19 in Hong Kong, Dubai and Narita, the airlines has urged all to take caution.

“As a few passengers tested positive for coronavirus in foreign destinations, the NAC’s flights to some of the places have been banned resulting in financial loss and adverse impact in their reputation,” the airlines said in the press note. “All passengers will have to take their own responsibility, if they tested positive for Covid-19 at foreign destinations,” the press note further reads.

NTB, NAC seal a deal to promote tourism

 Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) today signed an agreement to promote tourism.

According to the agreement, NTB and NAC will collaborate on various aspects to promote tourism industry. The agreement – formed under the concept of public-private partnership (PPP) with the objective of promoting Nepal as a major tourist destination in the international market – also ensures cooperation in various fields such as joint promotional work, introductory visits, branding of each other’s organisation and international level tourism related programmes to be organised in Nepal.

Both the stakeholders also claimed that the agreement will play an important role in promoting the tourism sector of the country in both the domestic and international sectors.

“In the midst of the current crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic, this kind of cooperation will further strengthen the multi-faceted relationship between the two organisations,” chief executive officer (CEO) of NTB Dhananjay Regmi said after signing the agreement. “It will give us more energy and strength to fight against the crisis,” he said, adding that the agreement will prove to be a cornerstone for the effective promotion of Nepal at the international level. 

The agreement was signed by NTB chief executive officer Regmi and NAC general manager (GM) Deem Prasad Poudel.

Tourism industry is in most effected sector due to coronavirus pandemic. As the industry is in the phase of survival to overcome challenges created by the novel coronavirus, the agreement will contribute to the effort of both the organisations for survival, revival and sustainable development of the tourism industry, according to a press note issued by the board.

Foreign investor walks out of Nepse-listed Soaltee Hotel

 Though the stable government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is trying to lure foreign investors, one of the foreign investor walked out of the country selling its shares.

Soaltee Enterprises has bought all the shares from an international company InterContinental Hotels Group to make the Nepse-listed Soaltee Crowne Plaza hotel a complete Nepali entity. Soaltee Enterprises – owned by former King Gyanendra Shah and his family – bought some 8.43 million units of shares at Rs 56.06 per unit totaling Rs 472.34 million worth transaction, according to the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) floor sheet. The shares of the Soaltee Hotels is being traded at Rs 190 per unit at the share market currently. According to the Nepse, the bulk shares transfer took place today through broker 33 and 34.

Along with this purchase of shares from InterContinental Hotels Group, the Soaltee Hotel is now totally owned by only Nepali investors, confirmed one of the oldest five-star hotel in Nepal. The Hong Kong-based InterContinental Hotels Group had 10 per cent stake in Soaltee Hotel.

The shares of Soaltee Hotel that were in the ownership of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) were transferred to Soaltee Enterprises. After the share transfer, Soaltee Enterprises now owns 50 per cent stake in Soaltee hotel, whereas Oberoi Hotels Pvt Ltd holds eight per cent shares, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) holds 12 per cent shares while the remaining 30 per cent stake is held by the public, as Soaltee Hotel is one of the listed hotels at the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse).

Founded by late prince Himalaya Bir Bikram Shah Dev and late princess Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah in 1965, Soaltee Crowne Plaza was formally inaugurated by late king Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah in 1966 with 104 rooms. But today Soaltee Crowne Plaza hosts 282 luxurious guest rooms and seven regal VVIP suites, spread over 12 acres.

In 1969, the Soaltee hotel was incorporated as a private limited company. Oberoi Hotels (India) Pvt Ltd, with its investment in shares capital, was entrusted with operational management of the hotel and rebranded as ‘Hotel Soaltee Oberoi’ in 1969. 

However, the hotel was converted into a public limited company in 1975 with an investment in the shares capital of the company by Nepal Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Oberoi Hotels (India) Pvt Ltd, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), promoters and the public. The shares of the hotel was listed at the share market with a face value of Rs 10 per unit.

Likewise, in 1994 the hotel was again renamed Soaltee Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Kathmandu and was operated by Holiday Inns China, a fully owned subsidiary of InterContinental Hotels (IHG).

But in 1998, Soaltee Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza was again rebranded as Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu.

Government to resume regular international flights from September 1

 The government has decided to resume regular international flights from September 1.

The planned commercial international flights will bring home stranded Nepali nationals abroad, informed finance minister and minister for Communication and Information Technology Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who is also the spokesperson of the government. 

“The cabinet meeting yesterday evening decided to resume regular international flights from September 1,” he said, adding that the regular international flights from the countries where PCR test facility is easily accessible will start immediately.

The schedules of the flights will be prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). “Those wanting to fly back home must produce a PCR test report conducted within 72 hours,” he said, adding that the government plans to bring in 500 Nepali nationals home a day. “All Nepali nationals returning home from such flights must stay in hotel quarantine for seven days upon their arrival in Kathmandu.”

The concerned airline operators should bear the cost of keeping all passengers in quarantine facilities, if passengers, who have not undergone PCR tests, are brought along with other passengers in the same flight, Dr Khatiwada added.

Earlier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) aircraft – on Sunday – had returned empty from Dubai after the government abruptly suspended all flights on the very first day of the fifth phase of repatriation. The aircraft had carried 235 passengers and 15 tonnes of cargo from Kathmandu to Dubai, while it returned home without any passengers or cargo after the government suddenly imposed the decision on Wednesday. The passengers, who had already booked their tickets, were enraged with the government's abrupt decision after they were left stranded at the airport.

Fifth phase repatriation flights to begin from tomorrow

 The government is starting the fifth phase of repatriation flights for Nepali migrant workers – stranded abroad due to Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures – from tomorrow.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has allowed more than 40 flights during the repatriation period that will last till August 31, according to the regulatory authority of the aviation sector. “We have allowed Nepal-based international airlines to operate more than 30 repatriation flights during the phase,” the authority confirmed, adding that some 10 flights will be conducted by international airlines, whereas Nepal Airlines will bring – stranded Nepalis home – in 17 flights from Dubai, Qatar, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. “Himalaya Airlines is scheduled to operate 14 flights to various labour destinations including Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai.”

Apart from Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, CAAN has permitted international airlines including Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, Jazeera Airways, Fly Dubai and Turkish Airlines to operate 11 flights. The repatriation flights – for the fifth phase – will be operated between August 17 and August 31.

The government has however decided to bring only 500 passengers a day, half from earlier. 

As the number of coronavirus cases increased, the government has announced the resumption of scheduled international and domestic air services from September 1 only. Earlier, the suspension was supposed to be lifted from August 17 but the decision was revised in view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

More than 50,000 Nepalis have been repatriated from abroad since the government started operating repatriation flights on June 10.

Nepal Airlines Corporation grounds all its Chinese aircraft

The national flag carrier has, finally, grounded all its six Chinese aircrafts – from today – citing operational loss.
“Two aircraft had been already grounded earlier and the remaining four have also grounded from today,” Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) spokesperson Archana Khadka confirmed, adding that the NAC will, now onwards, be operating its two Twin Otter aircraft for domestic flights. “We have submitted a letter to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) to do the needful with the four aircraft that were grounded today.”
As the government has the entire ownership of those all aircraft, the NAC has handed over the responsibility to the ministry, which will now take further decision on what to do with these aircraft. The grounded Chinese aircraft could be returned or sold to other airlines company.
NAC had received one MA60 and one Y12E aircraft on aid from the Chinese government, whereas bought one MA60 and three Y12E from Chinese aircraft manufacturer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC International Leasing) to fly them on the domestic routes.
“The corporation’s board decided to ground all the aircraft, as all the six aircraft were not able to make any profit,” Khadka said, adding that the corporation has already faced losses amounting to Rs 1.90 billion till last fiscal year. “Thus, the national flag carrier cannot afford these aircraft anymore and now the government itself has to decide what to do with these aircraft.”
“The insurance cost of the Chinese aircraft is 35 per cent higher than other aircraft,” according to the NAC that has hired a different sets of pilots as the pilots with national flag carrier cannot fly the Chinese aircraft. “The NAC itself has to train pilots for the Chinese aircraft, which is a very expensive affair,” a board director of NAC said, adding that lack of instructor pilots for these aircraft has also made these aircraft more costlier than for other aircraft.
Similarly, the spare parts of the Chinese aircraft are also 75 per cent more expensive than those required in other aircraft. “It takes almost two months for the company to deliver the spare parts to Nepal,” the NAC claimed, adding that the aircraft had to be grounded for a long period waiting for the spare parts to come from China.
The NAC had signed an agreement with AVIC International Leasing in 2013 which saw the Chinese firm donate one MA-60 and one Y12E on condition that the carrier take three more Y12Es and one more MA-60 using a Rs 3.72 billion ($35.4 million) soft loan from China's Exim Bank. Nepal Airlines has slowly taken delivery of the promised aircraft, but has complained of their unsuitability for Himalayan terrain.
But after five years, and with the loss of above Rs 5 billion, Nepal Airlines Corporation, has completely grounded the Chinese aircraft from today. Nepali aircraft has been banned from flying into the European Union (EU), after Nepal acquired Chinese aircraft.    

Nepal Airlines evacuates Nepali students from Bengaluru

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has today evacuated stranded Nepali students from Bengaluru in India.
Issuing a press note, the national flag carrier said that Nepali students stranded in the satellite city of India in Bengaluru and nearby areas have been repatriated to Nepal amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is the first rescue flight conducted from neighbouring India,” the press note reads, adding that it has been consistently carrying out rescue operations for stranded Nepalis from several countries during this time of crisis. Though, the airlines has not specified the number of rescued Nepali students, those who arrived from the NAC flight claimed that the NAC has been able to rescue only 81 students. “There are still more stranded Nepali students, who wants to return home but lack of knowledge and information has made the NAC flight bring less passengers,” they said.
Meanwhile, NAC has also conducted its chartered flight to Sudan. It has conducted the second chartered flight to the Africa for UN. Earlier, NAC has conducted chartered flight to Mali and Central African Republic for UN Peacekeeping Force. Today, the NAC flew some 238 Nepal Army Peacekeeping force for UN to Sudan. 

International, domestic flights to resume from August 17

The government has decided to resume international and domestic flights operation from August 17.
A cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Baluwatar today took the decision to resume the flights that have been halted since March 22.
According to tourism minister Yogesh Bhattarai, the cabinet meeting endorsed the proposal forwarded by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). “The cabinet has also directed the ministry to prepare a detailed safety guideline to resume the flights as the threat of coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to remain in the country,” he said, adding that the cabinet meeting has decided to resume all regular commercial flights. “
The government had decided to suspend all domestic and international flights on March 22 to contain the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19). However, the government has started chartered rescue flights – with safety protocol – to evacuate Nepalis stranded in foreign lands.
Currently, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and Himalaya Airlines, apart from some international airliners, have been operating chartered flights with safety protocol.

NAC flies to Narita despite apex court order

 The national flag carrier today started its commercial flight to Narita in Japan today ignoring the Supreme Court’s order. The apex court has directed the government to halt air service to and from coronavirus infected countries in the wake of global pandemic.

The NAC flight to Narita – carrying some 234 passengers from Nepal – flew to Narita today and returned with 265 passengers. A jumbo team of government officials travelled to Narita on its inaugural flight. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had announced yesterday that no formal programme would be conducted during the inaugural flight on the Kathmandu-Narita route.

Nepal Airlines Corporation spokesperson Archana Khadka defended the decision to go ahead with the Narita flight. “The corporation had been working to launch commercial flight on this route for a very long time and tickets were already booked for the inaugural flight,” she said, adding that the corporation had not received any objection letter or notice regarding flight operations to Japan. “However, the NAC will halt flights after receiving formal order from the apex court.”

NAC has started its commercial flights to Narita, shifting its service from Osaka as Narita is economically more viable than Osaka. NAC had halted flights to Osaka on February 27.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has directed all the concerned authorities to suspend the on-arrival visa issuance to passengers travelling from five countries including China, South Korea, Japan, Iran and Italy from March 10.

NAC to launch Narita flights on March 2

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is starting commercial flights to Narita in Japan from March 2.
The introductory airfare of Kathmandu-Narita flight has been set at Rs 73,000 per person for a round-trip and Rs 37,000 per person for one-way, according to the national flag carrier. “The introductory fare will be in place for a limited time and is subject to change in the future.”
In the initial phase, NAC will operate three flights per week in the sector; on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The flights are scheduled to depart from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 1:25am and return at 6:25pm on the same day, the NAC informed.
Each business class traveller will be allowed to carry up to 50 kg luggage, while the baggage limit for the economy class travellers has been set at 46 kg, it informed, expecting the direct Narita flight to add to the convenience of travellers to and from Japan and especially benefit air travellers in Tokyo and surrounding areas. “As Narita is comparatively closer to Tokyo, NAC expects the new service to ease Nepalis working and studying in the capital city of Japan.”
It will help to bring in more Japanese tourists to Nepal at comparatively less price,” the NAC added.

Nepal-Australia direct flight on cards

After Nepal and Australia signed a bilateral agreement on October 2, both the countries have been working on to ensure a direct flight between Kathmandu and Sydney.
Around 150,000 Nepalis currently reside in Australia and in the absence of direct flight between Kathmandu and Sydney, the Nepali community and tourists are forced to visit through various transits.
According to data of the Sydney Airport, the arrival of passengers to Sydney from Kathmandu has reached 121,260 so far this year, which is the largest number, when it comes to those nations lacking a direct flight.
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has also conducted a feasibility study of a direct flight between Kathmandu and Sidney. “The distance between Kathmandu and Sidney is approximately 10,000 kilometers,” the study reads, adding that constant discussions are underway on various technical aspects of the project following an agreement.