KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) narrow body plane has been grounded in Doha for more than 16 days now; however, the Board of Directors’ (BoD) indifference towards the loss of the national flag carrier has resulted in the profit for the private airlines company in the country.
The 9N AKW Call Sign A-320, which flew from Kathmandu to Doha on December 31, has been grounded in Doha due to engine problems.
According to NAC sources, the plane has to be swapped from Doha and that is possible only after executing aircraft on ground (AOG) process. It said that the AOG needs mandate from the NAC’s board of directors.
“AOG is mandatory for engine maintenance and only the board meeting can take decision on it,” the source said.
However, the executive chairman of NAC Yuva Raj Adhikari seems unwilling to call the meeting of the BoD.
“Rather than calling the meeting he has been warding it off citing the ongoing protests various unions of the NAC,” the source said under anonymity, adding, “Had the Chairman wished to call the meeting, he could even call a virtual meeting and make a decision in this regard.”
The workers unions in the NAC accuse that few high officials of NAC and private airlines owner are plotting to annihilate the existence of the national flag bearer and make room for the private airlines companies.
The national flag bearer’s narrow-bodied aircraft normally make two and half-flight a day on average. When the 150-seat capacity ship is grounded, the corporation incurs a 18.7 million rupees daily loss.
On the other hand, private airlines and foreign companies are reaping the benefits of the inefficiency and negligence of NAC management.
Looking at the flight reports of the last few days, it is seen that Himalayan Airlines, a private airline that operates international flights, is operating ten flights daily, while NAC is operating only six flights.
There are 30 to 35 international flights daily from Nepal. According to the airport office, NAC operates only six flights on an average these days.
The corporation has been flying to Japan, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Dubai, Doha and Delhi with four air crafts.
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