Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Hit Bahadur Tamang, has underscored the importance of safeguarding the dignity of Nepal’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation. Speaking at the 66th-anniversary celebration of the corporation today, Minister Tamang emphasized that the airline, despite facing numerous challenges, has successfully established a distinct identity in both national and international aviation.
Minister Tamang remarked, “Nepal Airlines is entering its 67th year, having navigated through various ups and downs to create a unique identity. It is crucial to develop concrete plans to further enhance its growth and reputation.” The anniversary event also featured a morning rally, which commenced from the corporation’s central office at New Road and passed through various landmarks including Basantapur, Aakash Bhairav, Ghantaghar, Bhadrakali, and Sundhara, before concluding back at the central office. Established on July 1, 1958, as Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, it is Nepal’s oldest aviation service provider.
Currently, Nepal Airlines operates international flights from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu to destinations including New Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai in India, as well as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Narita in Japan, Doha in Qatar, Dubai in the UAE, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The airline’s international fleet consists of two wide-body Airbus A330s and two narrow-body Airbus A320s. Domestically, it serves over 22 remote destinations, ensuring connectivity to Nepal’s most inaccessible regions.
Nepal Airlines began its journey with a Douglas DC-3 ‘Dakota’ aircraft, serving both domestic and select Indian destinations. In 1971, the airline introduced its first jet aircraft, the Boeing 727. As of July 2020, the corporation operated a fleet of seven aircraft. The introduction of Pilatus Porter in 1961 and the 12-passenger capacity Chinese Feng Shou-2 Harvester aircraft in 1963 marked significant milestones in expanding air service networks to Nepal’s remote areas.
