Nepal Airlines Corporation Under Scrutiny as Lawmakers Demand Clarification on Aircraft Maintenance Procedures
The International Relations and Tourism Committee, operating under the aegis of the House of Representatives, has mandated the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to furnish documentation pertaining to the maintenance procedures of a narrow-body aircraft within a 15-day timeframe. In a convened session held at Singha Durbar, the committee underscored the necessity for the national flag-carrier to provide comprehensive insights regarding the maintenance process amid allegations of corruption surfacing during the repair of the aircraft's engine.
Committee President Raj Kishore Yadav emphasized the imperative for the NAC to address concerns regarding potential corruption meticulously. The NAC had dispatched its narrow body aircraft to Israel for repair on January 11, following its grounding on December 1, 2023. The Israel-based MRO Company, as per the NAC's account, has assured the aircraft's return to Kathmandu by April 28. However, lawmakers voiced apprehensions during the session, citing the protracted duration of the aircraft's repair and the resultant disruption to NAC's flight operations.
Amidst growing concerns, lawmakers advocated for the establishment of a dedicated committee to investigate the matter thoroughly. They further proposed structural reforms within the NAC to mitigate reported irregularities and streamline service delivery. The lawmakers, including Bhim Prasad Acharya, Sunita Baral, and Shishir Khanal, stressed the necessity for enhanced cooperation between the NAC and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to address issues affecting the aviation sector and bolster the reliability of NAC services.
In response, Minister for Culture and Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hit Bahadur Tamang, pledged to take appropriate measures upon the substantiation of any misconduct on the part of the NAC. He affirmed ongoing scrutiny of the issue. Meanwhile, NAC Executive Chair Yubaraj Adhikari reiterated adherence to prescribed regulations in the narrow body's repair process, underscoring the corporation's commitment to regulatory compliance.
