The decision, finalized by a meeting of the board of directors held on Monday, is expected to increase the frequency of NAC´s international flights and prop up services dubbed ‘unreliable’ by many. The national flag carrier is currently eyeing one narrow-body plane seating up to 160 persons and a wide-body aircraft with seating capacity for up to 310.
“To begin the process of purchasing new airplanes, we will immediately issue a 45-day tender notice,” Raju KC, chief of NAC’s corporate department told myrepublica.com. Interested parties will have to submit their bid documents within this timeframe. NAC will then take another 15 days to evaluate the documents before a deal is done.
“This time we are negotiating directly with the aircraft manufacturers – Boeing and Airbus. We will select the company that offers us the better deal,” KC said. If the deal goes through, NAC will see new planes added to its fleet after a gap of 21 years.
However, NAC is not sure when the new aircraft will arrive in Nepal.
“They may land within four or five months as many airline companies around the world are canceling purchase deals amidst the worsening global economic crisis. But it may also take up to two years,” said KC.
NAC currently has a fleet of six aircraft. Of this, four are Twin Otters which operate domestic flights. The remaining two are Boeings that fly the international routes. NAC purchased its last Boeing in 1988.
Due to lack of aircraft, NAC on one hand has not been able to cover many destinations worldwide while on the other it has been postponing or canceling many flights. This has had a negative impact on tourism in the country.
Earlier, NAC had canceled a bid to lease an aircraft from North American Airlines after the two companies failed to negotiate a per hour flight rate.
rupak@myrepublica.com
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