Nepal orders two Airbus A320s

Nepal’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy two Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices.

“For a landlocked nation, aviation really is our window to the world and the world’s window to us. Nepal offers explorers, trekkers and pleasure seekers a wide range of cultural, ecological and outdoor pursuits. Adding the A320 to our fleet, will help us to capitalise on tourism growth and to enhance our network using the most fuel efficient aircraft available,” said Madan Kharel, Managing Director, Nepal Airlines Corporation.

The A320 is fully equipped to benefit from Required Navigation Performance (RNP) allowing the aircraft to fly precisely along predefined routes using state-of-the-art onboard navigation systems. This is particularly useful for operations at high altitude airports which are constrained by mountains such as Kathmandu.

NAC was incorporated on 1 July 1958 through the enactment of the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act. 1962. The Airline currently flies to four international destinations and 25 spectacular domestic locations in the heart of the Himalayas.

Sharklets deliver up to a 4 per cent saving in fuel consumption. according to Airbus, which notes that when Nepal Airlines Corporation firms the order it will become a new Airbus customer.

On April 29, 2013, Nepal Airlines Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to buy two new Airbus A320s equipped with drag-reducing Sharklets

The manufacturer says Nepal Airlines Corporation chose the Airbus A320 for its fleet modernization because of the type’s operating economics, performance capability for high-altitude airport operations and operational flexibility, which enables the A320 to be deployed on a wide variety of routes.

“For a landlocked nation, aviation really is our window to the world and the world’s window to us,” says Madan Kharel, managing director Nepal Airlines Corporation. “Nepal offers explorers, trekkers and pleasure seekers a wide range of cultural, ecological and outdoor pursuits. Adding the A320 to our fleet will help us to capitalize on tourism growth and to enhance our network using the most fuel-efficient aircraft available.”

The A320 is fully equipped to benefit from Required Navigation Performance (RNP), allowing the aircraft to fly precisely along predefined routes using state-of-the-art onboard navigation systems.

This is particularly useful for operations at high-altitude airports where flightpaths are constrained by mountains, such as Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (IATA code KTM), which is located in the Kathmandu Valley about six miles from the city.

Nepal Airlines Corporation was incorporated on July 1, 1958 through the enactment of the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act. The airline currently flies to four international destinations using two Boeing 757-200s and 25 high-altitude domestic locations in the heart of the Himalaya, with a fleet of five de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters.

More than 9,400 Airbus A320-family aircraft have been sold to more than 385 customers and operators worldwide.


Source: (flugrevue.de) News - 29 April 2013

Photo: The Nepal Airlines Corporation Act. orders two Airbus A320s (Photo by Airbus)


(29.04.2013)