Timeline: NAC turns 66

KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is celebrating its 66th anniversary on Monday.

NAC was established on July 1, 1958, as Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation. It started operations with a single Douglas DC-3 Dakota, serving domestic destinations like Simara, Biratnagar, Pokhara, and Bhairahawa.

Over the next three decades, NAC made significant progress, gradually upgrading its fleet to include Fongshu Harvester, Pilatus Porter, Fokker, Hawker Siddeley Avro, and Twin Otter aircraft. It eventually entered the jet era by acquiring Boeing 727s and two Boeing 757s. In the 1980s, NAC operated flights to 38 domestic destinations and 10 international destinations. Until that time, NAC was functioning like a proper business entity.

However, following the political changes of the 1990s, NAC began operating more like a government-owned public limited company. The national flag carrier became plagued by corruption. Political leaders used NAC to recruit their cadres, and aircraft leasing schemes began to drain the carrier’s resources.

Due to ineffective management, NAC lacked business plans to compete successfully in the airline industry. Although NAC now has a modern fleet of Airbus A330s and Airbus A320s, the management has struggled to utilize these assets effectively.

As NAC celebrates its 66th anniversary, let’s take a look at the key milestones in the history of the national flag carrier.

1958, July 1: Royal Nepal Airline Corporation founded

1958, July 3: First flight with a single Douglas DC-3 Dakota aircraft, connecting Simara, Biratnagar, Pokhara, and Bhairahawa

1959, October: Becomes sole owner (government takes full ownership)

1960, January: Starts flights to Patna, India (connecting to Delhi and Calcutta)

1966: Acquires Fokker F-27 Friendship, starts aerial sightseeing tours

1971: Buys Canadian DHC-6 Twin Otters

1970-1973: Air France experts improve management

1972: Acquires first jetliner, a Boeing 727

1977: Begins jet service to Frankfurt (using leased Lufthansa jets)

1980s: Golden era – flying to 38 domestic and 10 international destinations

1987, September: Acquires first Boeing 757

1990: Multi-party democracy restored, leading to increased political interference

1992: Liberalization of Nepali economy, domestic aviation market opens up

1997: Chase Air scam

2001: Lauda Air scam

2008-2011: Period of dual executive power system causing internal conflicts

2009, November: MoU signed with Airbus for A330-200 and A320 (later canceled)

2013, December: European Union bans Nepali airlines from its airspace

2014: Acquires Chinese Xian MA60 and Y12e aircraft

2015, February: The first new Airbus A320 jet arrives

2018: Acquires two Airbus A330-200s

2019: Resumes flights to Osaka, Japan,. Later starts flying to Tokyo Narita.

2023, May: Secures slots to operate two weekly flights to Sydney