NAC to bring in two of the four remaining Chinese aircraft by December
November 22, 2016- Kathmandu
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to bring in two aircraft by the end of December. The aircraft, a 56-seater Modern Ark (MA-60) along with a 17-seater Y12-e will be brought within one and half months and the process to bring in the aircraft is going on from the six aircraft that are scheduled to be brought in for commercial operations.
The pilots for the aircraft are already trained and ready for performing operations. Though the previous aircraft that have been operating are incurring losses, the decision was taken as per the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Nepal and China had signed a loan and grant deal to get six aircraft – two MA 60s and four Y-12E aircraft on November 13. China gave Rs 2.94 billion in grants and Rs 3.72 billion in soft loans to purchase six aircraft according to the agreement. The interest rate for soft loan has been predetermined at 1.5 percent.
NAC earned only Rs 141 million from MA 60 in the first year of operation, while its expenses were Rs 405 million. Y-12E earned Rs 12.2 million in the first nine months of its maneuver, compared to its operating cost of Rs 67.5 million.
Y-12E earned Rs 12.2 million in the first nine months of its operation, in comparison to its working cost of Rs 67.5 million.
Though the costs are high, the operations of the aircraft will bring goodwill and trust along with facilitating more number of passengers to travel at lower cost.
