KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is set to bring back its wide-body aircraft with the call-sign 9N-ALY, which has been in Italy for detailed maintenance, within the next three days. The aircraft was sent to Italy two months ago for a comprehensive C-check, and its delayed return has drawn significant attention.
Ramesh Poudel, the spokesperson for NAC, confirmed that the aircraft is expected to be released from maintenance by the first week of September. “The aircraft, which was dispatched to Italy’s Atitech SPA for a C-check in mid-June, is now scheduled to return to Kathmandu within the next three days,” Poudel stated.
The decision to send the aircraft to Italy for maintenance without prior permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) led to a series of administrative challenges. Notably, CAAN suspended NAC’s Executive Chairman, Ubaraj Adhikari, from his position as Accountable Manager due to the oversight. This suspension has left the national flag carrier in a difficult position, particularly with the absence of its wide-body aircraft fleet.
The prolonged maintenance has significantly disrupted NAC’s operations, especially its long-haul routes, as the 9N-ALY aircraft, expected to complete its C-check within a month, remains in Italy after two months. In addition to this, another wide-body aircraft, 9N-ALZ, was also sent to Italy last week for its C-check, further straining the airline’s capacity.
The delays have prompted concern at the highest levels of government. Badri Prasad Pandey, the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, has demanded an explanation from the NAC chairman regarding the prolonged maintenance and its impact on the airline’s operations.
NAC’s struggles with its wide-body aircraft maintenance highlight broader challenges within the corporation, including administrative oversight and operational inefficiencies. As the airline prepares to bring 9N-ALY back into service, all eyes will be on how quickly NAC can restore its long-haul operations and address the concerns raised by both CAAN and the government.
The return of the aircraft is crucial for NAC to regain its operational capacity and resume its long-haul international routes, which have been on hold due to the absence of a wide-body fleet. The coming days will be critical for NAC as it works to stabilize its operations and mitigate the impact of the delays on its services.