The national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), has officially launched direct flights between Kathmandu and Guangzhou. Although the airline had initially planned to start operations on September 25, technical issues delayed the inaugural flight until Saturday afternoon. Passengers who had gathered at Tribhuvan International Airport for the original flight were later accommodated by the airline.
First Flight Brings 107 Passengers from Guangzhou
According to NAC spokesperson Manoj Kumar Sah, the aircraft departed from Kathmandu on Saturday afternoon and returned the following day with 107 passengers from Guangzhou. The airline has assured that flights will now continue as per the published schedule.
Regular Weekly Flights Scheduled
NAC has set a schedule of three flights per week on the Kathmandu–Guangzhou route. After the first few flights on September 28, October 16, October 19 and October 23, services will operate regularly on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays. The one-way fare has been fixed at NPR 30,000, while a round-trip ticket costs NPR 50,000, the corporation stated.
Competition and Market Potential
Currently, China Southern Airlines and Nepal’s Himalaya Airlines are already serving this route. However, Guangzhou, home to a large Nepali community, is expected to provide NAC with strong passenger traffic and potential profitability.
Expanding International Network
With the addition of Guangzhou, Nepal Airlines now operates regular international flights to 11 destinations across nine countries. Using its two narrow-body and two wide-body aircraft, NAC connects Kathmandu to Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Bangkok, Dammam, and Narita.
