Nepal Airlines to receive Chinese aircraft

KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines will welcome its first Chinese-made aircraft 58-seater Modern Ark 60 (MA-60) aircraft next month.

The first of six airplanes that Nepal is acquiring from China will be delivered on April 28, while the rest will reach Nepal on different dates by the end of October this year, the report said referring to a top Nepal Airlines Corporation offiicial.

The authorities of Nepal and China had made a deal for the six aircraft last year.

In November 2012, Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had decided to purchase six new aircraft from a Chinese company on the basis of government-to-government talks.

Nepal is acquiring four aircraft –three Harbin Y-12E and one MA-60– on soft loan, and two aircraft– 19-seater Harbin Y-12E and the 58-seater MA-60– on grant.

NAC is currently struggling to operate domestic as well as interntional flights with only one Twin Otter left in its domestic and two two Boeings in international fleet.