Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has expected to grow up its annuity in international passenger movement by at least five percent with the addition of two new wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.
Currently, the national flag carrier has almost 10 percent share in international passenger’s movement among more than 24 foreign airline companies operating through Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
NAC had received its first long range 274-seater aircraft A330-200 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines with registration ‘9N-ALY’ named Annapurna last week. Similarly, the second A330 is expected to arrive in Kathmandu after a month.
Sugat Ratna Kansakar, Managing Director of NAC said it’s a glorious moment for the corporation itself to own two Airbus aircraft. He added that their share will certainly exceed 15 percent in international passenger movement.
According to Kansakar, two Airbus planes will not only help enhance Nepal Airline’s presence in the international flights, but will also help in boosting tourism in Nepal.
The corporation has planned to operate the first wide body for regular commercial flights from 1st August, 2018 to Dubai or Doha and gradually to other popular destinations. But, in-order to fly its new aircraft in new destination the Corporation has to operate it in the existing routes for 2-3 months in accordance to the provision of international practice. Within a few months, we would plan to start direct flights to Japan and Saudi Arabia, said Kansakar.
In order to cope up with the challenging task of seat occupancy of the new aircrafts in new destinations, NAC will enhance branding and promotion of the national flag carrier said General Manager Kansakar.
At the present scenario, NAC is conducting international flights through two narrow-body Airbus aircraft and one Boeing 757 to nine international destinations.
