History of Nepal Airlines
I always have the pride and respect the rich history that my national flag carrier has carried. In Nepal, it’s the urban folklore that “Nepal Airlines and Royal Thai Airlines started on the same day” but Nepal Airlines was in fact established earlier by 2 years earlier than Thai Airlines. Formerly known as RNAC abbreviation of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation was incorporated in 1958 while Thai Airways on 1960 only. Starting with American Doughlas Dakota plane, the airlines have used many other aircrafts but the successful ones were Boeing and Airbus as its aircraft carrier. Also, this airlines do have Chinese aircraft which I tried to dig in but no information available. Way before Middle-East and South East Asia made themselves an aviation juggernaut, Nepal Airlines takes the ”royal” credit for establishing a good network in the Asian skies. Having flown to long haul destinations of European nations as far as to London and Frankfurt too. The Jet era of 70’s and 80’s were the ‘golden days’ for Nepal Airlines.
Where are the Destinations Nepal Airlines fly today
First, we all should know, like every other national airlines, Nepal Airlines is serving the national requirement, so it’s obvious the destination which this airlines offer is where most Nepali travel for work, business or has historic ties.
Way back as RNAC, the Nepali flag carrier flew in the European skies till the far east Asia. Today, Nepal Airlines has few limited destinations to serve. The fleet flies only across Asian cities. The only daily flight that Nepal Airlines operates is to New Delhi, India. And, it’s surprising the airlines don’t even operate in China except for Hong Kong. And, Hong Kong traditionally has the Gurkha diaspora from the British colonial era.
Nepal today is known as “cheap-labor”, sadly exporting the national demographic dividend to the burgeoning Asian Superpowers, so the airlines have destined their air travel too with such nations like Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Current Situation of Nepal Airlines
The airlines have gone through a lots of ups and downs in terms of it’s mis-management, and scandals. To save the airlines, the government did take special public decisions on financing the procurement of Airbus from national savings from employee’s provident funds money. This makes the airlines much special to Nepalese as the savings of their earnings back the national flag carrier.
Currently the airline has 4 fleets for international flights. While RNAC was a Boeing buddy, the aircraft that I adore anytime, today has Airbus aircrafts, two A330 and two A320. The only long haul flight Nepal Airline offer is to Narita, Japan, which the airlines claim the most profitable one.
While there are national interests and restrictions imposed on allowing Nepali flag carriers to operate from other Asian cities. The Nepali government is working hard on it’s diplomatic channels to operate flights in Korea and Australia. Korea is another big labor source market for Nepalese and Australia being the largest migration of Nepalese since the late 90’s.
How does Nepal Airlines still Stands Out from the crowd even today
Airline operators have been highly competitive to give the luxury on the skies offering royalty. You don’t expect that royalty from Nepal Airlines. This airline operates on simple agenda- safety, and hospitality. Nepal is notoriously known for aviation disasters. Not only domestic, Nepali skies have faced devastating accidents in international airlines, touch wood, Nepal Airlines have set a benchmark of being the safest carrier in the region for international flights. Similarly, Nepal is also largely known for its hospitality, which is reflected in airlines. But when you talk about hospitality, every good experience and smiling stewards are hospitable, (I have come up to a conclusion what defines hospitality? Everyone everywhere are on their top behavior, is there anything to define hospitality is going ‘extra’).
Nepal Airlines today have to deal with timings and schedule specially from Kathmandu. As it operates only from Kathmandu’s TIA, the heavy air traffic have caused the flight to delay, which is usual on other airplane operators as well but still maintains the consistency on their scheduled timing most often. Talking about airport, Nepali regime during the late 80’s had proposed to make an international airport 100 kms south from Kathmandu in a barren land called Nijgadh, which was conceived as a hub for Asian aviation skies, a long gone story I guess however every new government has this Nijgadh International Airport in their agenda but never to happen.
Finally, needless to say when you take a flight to Nepal or somewhere out from Nepal, undoubtedly Nepal Airlines should be your choice after reading this, I suppose. They do have nice bargains on connecting flights, but you might want to go to the airlines office in Kathmandu.