Nepal’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), is bracing for renewed challenges as both of its wide-body aircraft were grounded simultaneously, forcing the carrier to rely on its two narrow-body aircraft to meet the demand for international travel. Currently, the airline operates four aircraft on international routes two narrow-body aircraft seating 158 passengers and two wide-body aircraft seating 274 passengers each. The simultaneous grounding of the wide-body fleet has severely impacted the carrier’s capacity to manage its long-haul operations as well as maintain its schedule. Apart from Nepal’s privately run Himalaya Airlines and Buddha Air, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) also faces competition from 28 foreign airlines on international routes from Nepal.
This latest development has exposed the challenges posed by the airline’s constrained fleet operations. According to the source, the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has been carrying debts above Rs 55 billion, and its losses continue to mount as well. With only four aircraft to operate international services, everyday technical problems or routine maintenance can create havoc with Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)’s flight operations. The airline official said the reduced number of aircraft makes it nearly impossible for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to accommodate disruptions without affecting its passengers and schedules. The situation has also hampered Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)’s capacity to expand its international reach despite demand for its services in new destinations.
Both Wide Body Aircraft Grounded
One of the grounded aircraft, the Airbus A330-200, registered as 9N-ALY and named Annapurna, lies stranded in Japan after it encountered an issue with its engine. The aircraft was put on the ground after the technical fault developed in its engine and the airline is trying to complete the necessary repairs to get the aircraft back in service. NAC technical spokesperson Devendra Pun said the airline is working to get the aircraft back in service as soon as possible. This aircraft, in particular, is critical to the airline’s international operations due to its larger capacity compared to the narrow-body fleet.
NAC’s second wide-body aircraft, 9N-ALZ, Makalu, has been in a C-check at Atitech S.p.A. in Italy since August 9, 2026. Initially, the aircraft was expected to return to service earlier, however, the maintenance took longer due to additional technical issues found during the servicing process. Additionally, recent reports have confirmed that the aircraft stayed in Italy beyond its scheduled maintenance period.
Japan Repairs And Italy Maintenance Delay
As reported by NAC, the engine issue on the aircraft in Japan occurred after an object struck the engine, damaging its turbine blade apart from the inner part of the engine. The airline has already replaced the damaged turbine blade with a spare one from its stock, however, the damage to the inner part of the engine was found to be beyond the permissible limit. Thus, a new engine part has to be procured in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. The replacement part is being transported to Japan via general cargo as chartering a separate aircraft would cost an estimated US$800,000 to US$900,000, as stated by Pun.
Once the aircraft reaches Japan, the repair process is expected to take around five to six hours followed by testing before the aircraft can be put back into service. As Pun stated, the aircraft can be ready for flight within another eight to 10 hours after the repair and testing process is completed. Meanwhile, the technical inspection of the second wide-body aircraft based in Italy has reached its final stage. The airline has identified the issues with the plane’s auto braking system as well as the external part of the engine. Resolving these issues and deciding on the repair or replacement of the faulty parts will take longer due to procurement and legal formalities.
Passenger Disruptions And Recovery Plan
The simultaneous grounding of the two wide body aircraft has upset the international passenger schedule of NAC, with up to 1,000 passengers per day affected by the development. The airline has had to reschedule its flights while dealing with the challenges of a reduced capacity with its two remaining narrow body aircraft. NAC officials have said the small fleet does not provide much leeway to deal with technical disruptions and thus, a single cancellation or significant delay becomes all the more conspicuous. The airline has also faced increased pressure to address the needs of its passengers who are mostly travelling for work, those with impending visa deadlines and those with urgent travel commitments.
NAC said it is arranging alternative tickets from other airlines at its expense for passengers with imminent visa deadlines, those travelling for foreign employment and urgent travel commitments. In addition, it is also providing free of cost rescheduling and hotel accommodation when necessary to mitigate the impact of the disruptions on its passengers. Pun stated that the airline is accelerating its repair and spares logistics for the two affected aircraft, as it aims to get the two wide-body aircraft back in international service within the week. Restarting the two aircrafts is expected to ease the pressure on the airline’s international operations and enhance its ability to provide reliable services to its passengers.
