Pilot issues to be resolved soon: Nepal Airlines Corporation

KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has transported stranded passengers to their destinations following disruptions caused by a protest from its pilots.

The protest, stemming from demands for improved services and benefits, led to the cancellation of nearly half a dozen flights on Sunday, affecting hundreds of passengers traveling to destinations such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Dubai.

According to NAC spokesperson Ramesh Paudel, flights were disrupted due to non-cooperation from some pilots.

However, passengers stranded in Kathmandu were eventually flown to Mumbai late Sunday night and to Dubai on Monday morning.

Spokesperson Paudel assured that the corporation is taking the pilots’ demands seriously.

Discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, as well as the Ministry of Finance, to address the issue promptly.

The protest reportedly began on Nov 21, with some captains submitting “sick reports” and “urgent work reports.” By Nov 23, flight operations were significantly affected. Of the 43 captains at NAC, eight are believed to have participated in the protest.

NAC currently operates two wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft for international flights.

The management has stated that it has been updating the pilots regarding their service conditions and has informed the Ministry of Finance through the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation.

In a notice signed by acting operations director Dipuraj Jwarchan, NAC expressed concerns over the financial losses and reputational damage caused by the disruptions.

The management has taken the matter seriously and has urged all pilots to resume operations as per their assigned rosters.

NAC emphasized that the financial and operational losses will be addressed as per regulations, while efforts to resolve the situation continue.