Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), the aviation regulatory body of Japan has asked the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to resubmit the every documents for direct flight approval to Narita International Airport. Japanese Aviation Authority said that they have not been satisfied with the documents submitted earlier by the corporation.
Previously, team from JCAB inspected NAC’s operation and also met the officials of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) along with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
NAC submitted all the required documents after JCAB team instructed to submit flight audit reports, air operator certificates, flight safety programs, crew training programs, aircraft inspection report and other related reports.
Japanese team after reviewing the documents replied that they were satisfied with the safety practices of NAC and NAC said they would start flights to Tokyo from the end of March.
Japan government had informed to provide free landing and parking facility for a year for Nepal Airlines Corporation and only charge 72% for 2nd year, 50 percent for 3rd year whereas full charge to be taken only from the 4th year.
Now the JCAB has again asked NAC to resubmit the documents creating a confusion and further delaying the flight approval.
The ground handling company of Japan, Cathay Kansai Terminal Service also informed NAC of its inability to provide ground services due to lack of manpower.
NAC Executive Chairman Madan Kharel said that they would be holding a meeting with senior officials from MoCTCA to find the solution.
A source from MoCTCA claimed that NAC’s plan to fly to Narita airport in Tokyo is being brought down by the middlemen in Japan and then forced to conduct flights to Osaka International Airport.
NAC has been working to acquire air operator certificate from Japan, China and Saudi Arabia as its current priority is higher for these destinations.
The corporation which currently flies to Malaysia, Qatar, UAE, Hong Kong, Bangkok and India is trying to expand its destinations for which necessary processes have been started. As per the information, Shanghai (China), Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Cambodia are the newer choices for NAC.
NAC is operating international flights with 2 wide-body Airbus A330, 2 narrow-body Airbus A320 and a Boeing 757. A330s are intended to operate long haul flights so, the corporation is eyeing destinations such as Japan and Korea.
