The only Boeing 757 of the flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) with call sign ‘9N-ACB’ Gandaki is stated to arrive tomorrow after a maintenance schedule completion. The aircraft which was scheduled to arrive today.
The aircraft has been in Malaysia for last couple of months for repair and maintenance. The aircraft was sent to Malaysia by the engineering department of the corporation around 2 months ago for repairing thermal blanket and c-duct.
The aircraft was scheduled to be back earlier however a c-duct brought from Malaysia was re-fitted after the c-duct shipped from America did not fit in the aircraft extending the maintenance time.
The repair and maintenance of Boeing 757 reached an estimated cost of NRs. 15 Millions.
The corporation is in process to sell the aircraft however, the corporation has plan to operate it, until it gets sold. The board meeting of the corporation had given a consensus agreement in April to sell Boeing. According to that, Fintech Consultant Company of Switzerland evaluated Boeing 757.
The corporation urged not to ground this aircraft until the aircraft is not sold as it will decrease the value of the aircraft.
NAC bought two Boeing 757s in 1987 from an American Company and then operated it for more than 30 years. Out of two 757, one with registration ‘9N-ACA’ named ‘Karnali’ has already been sold to BB Airways. The corporation decided to sell Boeing 757 stating need of extra human resource to operate and maintain aircraft of 2 different companies and Airbus being relatively easy to operate and maintain.
At present, NAC operates international flight operation with 5 aircraft (2 Airbus A320, 2 Airbus A330 and a Boeing 757).
The first Boeing 757 aircraft was sold to Nepalese private career BB Airways in NRs 170 Million few months ago. The aircraft still stays grounded inside premises of TIA with its future unknown. BB Airways had bought the aircraft stating it would use the aircraft to operate international cargo flights but the failure of the company to bring the aircraft back in operation ended the hope for it to fly again. As the result, the aircraft is now waiting to be scrapped after its 3 decades dedicate service to Nepal Airlines.
