In a recent appeal to the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, the cabin crew of Nepal Airlines have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of service benefits and career development opportunities. The crew, comprising long-serving flight attendants, submitted a 12-point memorandum outlining their grievances and demands.
The team of cabin crew members, working on a contractual basis at Nepal Airlines, met with Minister Pandey at his Singhadarbar office. They highlighted that despite their long-term service, they remain under contract without any career progression, which has raised concerns about their professional development and the future of their dependent families.
Prabha Karki, President of the Cabin Crew Association of Nepal (CCAN), who was present at the meeting, reported that the Minister expressed a positive attitude towards their demands and assured that necessary actions would be taken. Karki emphasized that the crew members are currently deprived of various service benefits and are facing discrimination compared to other staff members in the organization.
The memorandum also pointed out that, while pilots are categorized as ‘cockpit crew’ and receive different benefits under the Nepal Airlines Act, 2019, and the Employees’ Service and Conditions Regulation, 2058, flight attendants are classified as ‘cabin crew’ with fewer privileges. The crew has demanded that the distinction be removed and that they be treated with equal regard as their pilot counterparts.
The crew expressed frustration over the lack of pension schemes for incapacitated staff, the absence of promotion opportunities, and the need to work in the same position for extended periods without any career advancement. They also highlighted the disparity in service conditions between cabin crew and other employees such as engineers and pilots, who enjoy more attractive benefits and career prospects.
The association’s president noted that there are approximately 170 flight attendants at Nepal Airlines, and the current conditions have been a source of significant distress for those who have served for up to 17 years in the same role.
The ongoing issue underscores the need for a review of the service conditions and career development policies for cabin crew at Nepal Airlines to ensure fair treatment and adequate support for long-serving staff.
