Kathmandu, November 27

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari today directed Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to mainly focus on maintaining the regularity of its flights and also the credibility of the organisation.

Adhikari’s direction has come at a time when the national flag carrier has been facing severe criticism from various quarters on possible corruption in the purchase deal of the two Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft that it recently

acquired. The corporation has also been facing criticism for its failure to operate these aircraft in a full-fledged manner resulting in shortage of cash with NAC.

“Regularity in flights and credibility are the major aspects for any airline company to remain competitive. NAC should not

compromise with these aspects at any cost,” stated Adhikari while addressing a meeting with NAC officials today. Moreover, the minister also said that NAC should reply to the ongoing negative rumours about the corporation through enhancement of its market and services.

Similarly, Minister Adhikari also suggested the corporation to prepare a concrete and effective action plan to take NAC ahead and focus on the implementation of the plan. “As NAC has to compete with many foreign airline companies, it should transform itself and its services in line with the new context and time,” he said, adding that it is only through better services that NAC can retain its legacy. Adhikari also assured that the government would provide all necessary support to NAC in the future.

At the meeting, Madan Kharel, executive chairman of NAC, said that the corporation will soon unveil its business plan ensuring the optimum use of its planes. He also stated that the national flag carrier is committed to enhancing its management capacity and making NAC a financially sustained entity by utilising available resources. He also vowed that all planes of NAC will start regular flights within the next three months and the two new wide-body aircraft will start flying to new long-haul destinations.