KATHMANDU: Two 17-seat Y12e aircraft have been handed over to Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) amid a function here Tuesday. The aircraft were brought on subsidised loan from the government of China.

The handover programme organised at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) was attended by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari and Chinese ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong.

Six aircraft including these two were brought to Nepal 45 days back. The NAC has stated that of the six aircraft, Y12 and MA 60 (56 seat) were brought on grant while others on subsidised loan. Agreement was made six years ago that Nepal would bring six aircraft from China.

On the occasion, Minister Adhikari directed the NAC officials to bring into operation all six airplanes within hundred days. NAC Director General Sugat Ratna Kansakar expressed hope that domestic flights would be made more effective with the operation of the new airplanes. Ambassador Hong opined that tourism was a major base of Nepal's economy and the operation of new planes would boost tourism.