Kathmandu, March 11:

The revenue of the national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has fairly improved during the first six months of the current fiscal year of 2006-07 and exceeded the target.

According to the half-yearly report, NAC’s earnings from passenger ticket sales and cargo stood over Rs 2.19 billion during the period, up by Rs 44 million against its target of Rs 1.95 billion. As a result, NAC’s overdraft to be paid to banks has come down to Rs 850 million as of mid-January from the Rs 1.45 billion in mid-July last year.

During the period, the corporation also paid Rs 45 million as TDS to the government, states a NAC press release.

A total of 164,769 passengers have flown through NAC to various international destinations during the period, which is also up against the set target of 147,548 passengers. Likewise, the international flight cargo shipment has also exceeded the target of 986 metric tonnes (MT) to 1,263 MT during the period.

The good result is achieved by a strategic planning, suspending operations to sectors with low profitability and increased frequency in profitable sectors, adds the release. The sectors where NAC focused its operations are Bangkok, Delhi, Hong Kong, Osaka, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur.