Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), national flag carrier has announced to expand its capacity within two years i.e. by 2020. Sugat Ratna Kansakar, Managing Director stated that the corporation is planning to take action to the new high level. Within two years, we have strategy to sell all the old aircraft and to operate flights with new aircraft only, he added. Among 2 Boeing aircraft, one has been sold at Rs 150 million whereas remaining one is in its process to be sold.
According to Rabindra Shrestha, Spokesperson of NAC, the corporation has chosen the consultant to determine the value for Boeing sales besides that the remaining 2 Twin-Otter will be sold within 2 years. The valuation of existing aircraft will be done according to age of aircraft and total flown hours, he added.
The corporation will have altogether 13 aircraft after the arrival of second wide body Airbus A330. Among 13 aircraft, 3 old aircraft will be sold and will be adding 10 new aircraft within 2020 said Shrestha.
Government has granted NAC a theoretical consent to purchase six Twin Otter aircraft. Permission was granted to enhance the corporation worsened domestic sector capacity. The decision has been made to promote its destination on domestic sector as well along with reliable air service informed Rabindra Adhikari, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Also, NAC is planning to procure 2 more 70-seater aircraft for conducting flights at trunk routes.
Similarly, the carrier has planned to buy the two narrow body jets with the financing from Employees Provident Fund. As per the 2017 price list from the official website Airbus, the approximate cost for an A320neo aircraft is US$108.4 million. The amount for buying 2 aircraft will be managed from Provident Fund. “The corporation has a capital problem to expand the market, Shrestha said, the government has agreed to add some capital to the next need.”
Spokesperson Shrestha accepted that NAC has faced a lot of problems due to lack of pilots. However, the corporation has announced to appoint foreign pilot for operating domestic and international flights. Though the corporation has policy to appoint Nepali pilots, the corporation plans to conduct flights with foreign pilots for a few years.
He further claims that after acquiring 6 DHC6-400 aircraft, NAC will be operating flights at all the airports operated by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). He said that after the publication of scheduled flights, the corporation won’t hesitate to operate flights even two passengers are available. A separate management team has been formed to make internal flights effective and systematic, he added.
