Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the national flag carrier was one of the top airlines to operate international flights and to provide air services to passengers in 2016 from Tribhuvan International Airport.
Unfortunately, in 2017 the corporation could not maintain the same position. Due to decrease in flight frequency because of numerous reasons, NAC has got second position whereas Jet Airways, a Indian private airline operator has got first rank.
Both Airline companies have been conducting flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Doha from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Jet Airways was ranked fourth according to carrying passengers and ranked third according to the flight frequency.
Spokesperson for NAC Mr. Rabindra Shrestha stated that due to lack of aircraft and pilots in 2017 flights were decreased to several destinations. NAC could not lease aircraft and Airbus 320 was under maintenance in Delhi for long time due to which many flights were deducted.
The corporation was in decision to hire Bhutan Airlines’ aircraft for 45-60 days after the only aircraft Boeing 9N-ACB 575 was sent to Singapore for repair and maintenance resulting deduction of 17 flights in a week.
According to the TIA official, NAC was ranked 3rd and 4th in operating flights and carrying passengers respectively in 2015. After the addition of two A320s in February and April of 2015, the corporation reached the top rank of all in 2016.
According to the information given by the Tribhuvan Airport Office, Nepal Airlines has provided service to 3, 88,329 passengers on international flights in 2017. However, Jet Airlines has provided service to 4, 69,301 passengers in 2017.
Similarly, Jet Airlines has flown 3,644 times this year whereas Nepal Airlines has flown 3,082 times.
The flight number has been deducted compared to the previous year of Nepal Airlines, while Jet Airlines has added 1,200 times compared to last year. This year flight has been tightened by Qatar Airlines and Air Arabia whereas Fly Dubai has reduced to 60 flights in comparison to the previous year.
The national flag carrier is set to receive two wide-body A330-200 aircraft by end of Ashar 2075. Besides, the corporation is also in process of purchasing two more narrow body aircraft. The addition of those aircraft will certainly boost the flight frequency of NAC.
