Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Both narrow-body aircraft of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) have finally returned to operation after being grounded for weeks due to engine-related technical issues. According to NAC spokesperson Subash Dangi, the Airbus A320s with call signs 9N-AKW and 9N-AKX are now fully operational following maintenance work.
“Both 9N-AKW and 9N-AKX aircraft have had their technical problems resolved. The 9N-AKX was released for flights on Sunday, while the other aircraft had already resumed operations earlier,” Dangi confirmed.
Grounded for Weeks Due to Gearbox Problems
The aircraft with call sign 9N-AKX had been grounded since August 4 (20th of Shrawan) after a gearbox issue was detected inside its engine. Soon after, on August 20 (4th of Bhadra), the second narrow-body aircraft also faced unexpected engine issues, forcing it to be grounded as well.
Engine Took Two Years to Rebuild
NAC officials revealed that the overhaul of its original narrow-body engine took nearly two years to complete. In the meantime, the airline had been operating the planes using a leased engine.
The corporation had sent its faulty engine to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on December 1, 2023 (15th of Mangsir 2080) for a complete rebuild. “We have received confirmation from IAI that the engine has been completed. The plan is to reinstall it by the Dashain festival,” said spokesperson Dangi.
Currently, the process of document verification is underway before the engine can be transported back to Nepal. However, since the engine must be installed in Israel, NAC will need to fly the aircraft there for reinstallation.
Allegations of Mismanagement
Meanwhile, NAC Chairman Yubraj Adhikari has faced criticism and allegations of mishandling engine maintenance. Industry insiders accuse the management of deliberately delaying repairs and opting for a leased engine instead, allegedly for commission benefits.
The two-year delay in engine restoration and dependence on leased engines have raised fresh concerns over NAC’s operational inefficiency, weak management practices, and transparency in procurement.
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