Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has not got any response from the China since long time for the agreement to fly to Guangzhou, the third largest city in South Central China. NAC applied for an operating Authorization in 2015 to operate flights to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
NAC’s spokesperson Rabindra Shrestha said, “At present, we don’t have any response from Chinese side and no any information is generated between us and them.” It is unpredictable as the approval could be done sooner or later, he added.
NAC used to operate flights to Shanghai until 2008 however; deficiency of aircraft compelled the corporation to discontinue flights to the route.
In February 2014, Nepal and China signed a revised bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA). The agreement allowed 56 flights per week with any type of aircraft on a mutual basis. The agreement allowed each country to enhance the flight rate to 70 per week by 2016.
Chinese airlines were allowed to operate 14 flights a week according to the old ASA. Currently, Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Sichuan Airlines and Tibet Airlines are operating regular flights to Nepal.
China could be the top tourist generator for Nepal as it is poised to overtake India so, it will be beneficial for NAC if flight permission is approved from China.
NAC is trying to escalate the number of destinations as it is nearing to take the delivery of two wide body Airbus A330s but with these complications, it could take considerable time for the corporation to acquire new destinations.
