August 01 , 2006

In a bid to strengthen the national flag carrier—Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the government is planning to restructure the ailing airline under the concept of private-public partnership. This was disclosed by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali at the 49th anniversary celebration function of NAC organized in Kathmandu on July 1, 2006.
Minister Gyawali said that restructuring of NAC would be a better option to restore its past image as a reliable carrier. “We are doing homework on acquiring new aircraft,” he said.  He stressed on the need for the airline to be financially self-reliant and become a profitable and competitive enterprise. He also called for the NAC management to prepare an action plan as per the various recommendations put forward by different recommendation committees in the past.
On the occasion, K. B. Poudel, officiating managing director of NAC, said that the corporation has failed to make its flights reliable and punctual due to lack of aircraft.
At present, NAC operates flights to nine destinations in Asia with its two old aircraft. Out of its seven Twin Otters, only four are in operation in the domestic sector.
Meanwhile, NAC started operating scheduled flights on Pokhara-Bhairahawa sector from July 1, 2006. According to the airline, it is operating four flights a week on this route. The new flight service is expected to help give a boost to the tourism business of Pokhara and Bhairahawa.