NAC to procure 4 new jets over next 2 years

Kathmandu January 26- Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) on Monday unveiled its ambitious reform strategy that includes buying new jets and adding new destinations to strengthen its position.

Under its fleet expansion plan, the national flag carrier will buy two wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft over the next two years. The first wide-body jet is scheduled to join its fleet next December, according to the strategy.

The second of the two wide-bodies is expected to be inducted into the fleet by February 2017. The corporation expects to spend Rs26 billion for the two wide-body aircraft. NAC has not confirmed the type of plane it will buy, but sources said it could be an Airbus A330 as NAC plans to have an all-Airbus fleet in the near future.

Likewise, NAC plans to procure the first of the two narrow-body aircraft by May 2017 and the second by July 2017. “After the first wide-body jets are inducted into the fleet, we will be connecting Australia, Japan and South Korea,” said NAC Managing Director Sugat Ratna Kansakar, speaking at the unveiling of the plan.

He added that flights to Saudi Arabia, Dammam, Colombo, Yangon and London would be started after the rest of the planes arrive. “As the major challenge is arranging finance, we have conducted two rounds of meetings with the Finance Ministry,” he said, adding that the ministry was positive about providing the necessary money.