Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has requested BB Airways to remove Boeing 757 ‘9N-ACA’ aircraft from NAC’s hangar at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
BB Airways, private international airlines owned by Bhawan Bhatta purchased three decades old Boeing 757 ‘9N-ACA’ aircraft of NAC on the first week of January.
According to Mr. Rabindra Shrestha, Spokesperson of NAC, the corporation had sent a letter on 18th February asking to remove the aircraft within one week. However, the BB airways has asked for 1 month duration for removing the aircraft.
As per the agreement, NAC is bearing all the parking and insurance cost for 45 days of signing. The cost is estimated to cross Rs3 million per month.
The ownership transfer process has become complex for BB Airways as Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is denying the transfer of ownership and approval of flight permissions. And it has been reported that it could take 1.5 years for the approval if the process begins.
Boeing 757 which has flown for 86410 hours has been grounded for 2 years. BB Airways with intension of buying the aircraft had submitted a payment of 10 per cent of the total amount (Rs1.5 crore) on 13th of October 2017 promising thereby to fill the full payments within a week from the date.
Due to lack of Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), BB Airways has been unable to remove aircraft from the hanger as the ownership of aircraft has not been transferred yet.
BB Airways’ B757-200 9N-ACA, a 30-year-old aircraft bought from Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) needs complete overhaul and its two Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines needs replacement.
In September 2012, BB Airways had leased aircraft from Cambodia’s Tonlesap Airlines and had started its scheduled flight from Kathmandu to Malaysia but after the expiry of the lease the flight stopped.
As per the information, before registering Boeing 757, BB airways have to take AOC from CAAN and should have completed all five phases determined by ICAO.
