NAC to auction second Boeing 757 aircraft

Kathmandu, April 2

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has finally decided to auction its remaining Boeing 757 aircraft. While the aircraft has been grounded for a long period of time and was under maintenance, the board meeting of the NAC held on March 15 had taken such a decision.

Since the aircraft was grounded NAC had once planned to repair and operate the aircraft. As the maintenance cost turned out to be expensive the national flag carrier decided to auction it. “The board has taken the decision to auction remaining Boeing plane but we will be taking suggestions on the matter from Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA),” said Navaraj Koirala, joint spokesperson for NAC. He further said that since the maintenance cost is high it would be wise to sell the aircraft.

The NAC board has decided to seek suggestions from its line ministry so as to avoid any controversies in the future.

Although the ministry has given NAC the full authority to decide on the aforementioned aircraft, the national flag carrier has said that it will move ahead with the auction only after taking the final approval from MoCTCA.

Meanwhile, the ministry has said that NAC does not need to take its approval for the auction. NAC is a sovereign organisation and has been delegated the authority to take decisions related to its welfare, hence it does not need to wait for our approval, said Suresh Acharya, joint secretary of the ministry.

“Since we have given NAC the full authority there is no point in seeking the ministry’s approval to auction the aircraft,” stated Acharya. “Moreover, NAC Chief Madan Kharel himself is an executive director of NAC board.” He further mentioned that no such request letter has been received from NAC yet. “As there has been no new policy or law introduced NAC does not have to take the ministry’s final approval.”

Prior to this, when the first Boeing 757 - 200 9N-ACA aircraft was being auctioned NAC had not sought the ministry’s approval.

The corporation had conducted the auction on its own. Once the second Boeing is auctioned, NAC will have a fleet comprising 13 aircraft, of which two are MA 60, four Y12E, two Airbus A320-200 narrow-body and two Airbus A330-200 wide-body and three Twin Otters. However, most of the aircraft are not in operation.