Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: The government has decided to appoint the new Managing Director (MD) of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) through an open competition process, moving away from past practices of politically influenced leadership appointments. A selection committee led by Tourism Secretary Hari Prasad Mainali has been formed to recommend qualified candidates.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki, in her capacity as the minister responsible for the corporation, approved the formation of the committee on Friday. Former NAC Managing Director and senior aviation professional Capt. Kul Bahadur Limbu has been appointed as an expert member on the panel. The chief of the Planning and Administration Division of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will serve as the committee’s member secretary.
The committee has been given one month to shortlist and recommend suitable candidates through a transparent, merit-based competitive process.
Until the recruitment is completed, Deputy Managing Director Janakraj Kalakheti, NAC’s senior-most official, will serve as Acting Managing Director, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Similarly, Vice Chairperson Bikram Rai will handle the responsibilities of the NAC Board Chairperson until a new arrangement is made.
The decision marks a shift from the previous leadership structure, where the Executive Chairman functioned as the top executive authority. The four-year tenure of former Executive Chairman Yuvraj Adhikari expired on Kartik 7. Adhikari had been lobbying for an extension of his term, but Prime Minister Karki signaled a clear message that individuals embroiled in controversies would not be retained in leadership roles.
Before the decision for open competition was endorsed, Adhikari had handed over temporary leadership to Deputy Managing Director Doleswor Koirala on Kartik 4. However, Koirala is junior to Kalakheti in the corporation’s seniority structure. The new appointment decision overturns that move, placing Kalakheti in the acting leadership role.
Sources at NAC confirmed that Adhikari had also contacted several employees by phone on Thursday, suggesting that he could potentially return. But with the government now initiating a merit-based selection system, the leadership of the national flag carrier will move forward under a competitive, transparent, and reform-oriented recruitment framework.
The restructuring move comes at a time when Nepal Airlines is under increasing scrutiny regarding governance standards, service reliability, international route expansion, financial discipline, and its role in supporting national aviation connectivity and tourism recovery.
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