Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), national flag carrier has decided to give 6 Chinese aircraft in lease after being unable to generate revenue from those aircraft due to lack of pilots.
Rabindra Shrestha, spokesperson of the corporation stated that the corporation is planning to dispatch 6 Chinese aircraft that includes 2 MA-60 and 4 Y-12e aircraft to other companies in lease. He also said that the corporation has reached this decision due to lack of pilots to operate Y-12e aircraft, though operating MA-60 was not a problem.
Shrestha said that the subject to give the Chinese aircraft in lease will be approved within the next few days from the Board of Directors.
One of the two MA-60s is grounded whereas two Y-12e aircraft out of four are only operating flights and there are only 4 pilots for operating Y-12e aircraft.
After the unsuccessful attempt to hire foreign pilots, the corporation has decided to give the aircraft in rent.
The corporation is receiving more than 300 million losses yearly from the Chinese aircraft though the government purchased 6 Chinese aircraft in the aim of providing air service to the people of the Himalayas and the hilly regions.
Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), Rabindra Adhikari directed the corporation to operate Chinese aircraft anyhow by managing pilots in the inauguration program of Tribhuvan International Airport for 21-hours a day however, NAC could not continue accordingly and now is in the process of providing the aircraft in lease.
