Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), national flag carrier has asked approval from the government to sale its sole Boeing 757. NAC sent a letter to Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) asking for approval to sale its Boeing 757-200 series aircraft on Thursday.
“We have sent the letter to the ministry for the approval of the government”, said Ashok Sigdel, spokesperson of NAC. “After the government consent, the sales process will be started,” he added.
The corporation has planned to sell Boeing 757 ‘9N-ACB’ Gandaki after it caused problem repeatedly and the repair cost is more than its generated income. The board meeting of the corporation had given a consensus agreement in April to sell Boeing. According to that, Fintech consultant company of Switzerland evaluated Boeing 757.
Fintech Company’s expert team from Switzerland had arrived Nepal to evaluate the Boeing 757 aircraft of the corporation. The company was provided 45 days for the necessary evaluation process. A few months ago, a report was submitted by inspecting all the technical aspects of the aircraft.
Sigdel said that the corporation wrote letter to the government after the corporation operational committee meeting held on Tuesday (December 4) decided to sell the Boeing according to the assessment. Information about aircraft sales will be published after receiving approval from the government.
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) bought two Boeing 757s in 1987 from an American Company and then operated it for more than 30 years. Out of two 757, one with registration ‘9N-ACA’ named ‘Karnali’ has already been sold to BB Airways. The corporation decided to sell Boeing 757 saying NAC will be operating international flights with its Airbus.
“The first thing is that Boeing is getting old and bad,” Spokesperson Sigdel said, “Next, we are centered on the airbus by leaving Boeing.” According to him, keeping the Airbus and Boeing different types of aircraft are creating problems in the corporation’s management as separate engineer need to be hired for both aircrafts.
NAC with its Boeing operated flights to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Dubai and SAARC countries including Maldives, Colombo, Dhaka, Karachi, Myanmar, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Osaka, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai.
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) sent its Boeing 757 to Malaysia for repair and maintenance which is still there. NAC has sent Boeing to Malaysia last month for repairing “thermal blanket” and “c-duct” according to the engineering department. It might cost more Rs NRs 200 Millions for repair and maintenance. The corporation informed that after a week of the aircraft being repaired it will be arriving Nepal.
NAC bought two Boeing 757s in 1987 from an American Company with the purpose of operating long haul and then operated it for more than 30 years. NAC is phasing out Boeing aircraft and slowly procuring Airbus aircrafts. At present, NAC operates international flight operation with 5 aircraft (2 Airbus A320, 2 Airbus A330 and a Boeing 757). Besides, the corporation is also planning to procure A320 neos.
