The latest in a line of civil aviation ministers has committed to reforming Nepal Airlines (RA, Kathmandu). Badri Pandey, in the role since July 2024, told a Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Tourism meeting earlier this month that he would "not rest" until Nepal Airlines Corporation is reformed.
"The way we are going is not the right way; there are some issues that should be identified and addressed," Pandey told the committee. "We will not rest until Nepal Airlines Corporation is reformed."
Relations between the airline and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, which acts as a safety regulator and service provider, need to improve, he said, adding: "Working without cooperation and cordiality will be extremely difficult. We will continue with further discussions, result-oriented discussions, and return-oriented discussions, in the coming days."
During the parliamentary committee meeting, the parliamentarians decided to establish a subcommittee to report on Nepal Airlines' challenges. The subcommittee members include four MPs, three of whom were named Sunita Baral, Yogesh Gauchan Thakali, and Tsering Lhamu Lama. They are due to submit their first report in 30 days.
Separately, Kathmandu's Republica newspaper reported that Pandey had also given Nepal Airlines Chairman Yuvraj Adhikari one month to address the airline's problems. Adhikari, who has faced calls for his resignation, suspensions, and scandal, has already outlasted three ministers of civil aviation.
A succession of officials, including predecessor Sudan Kiranti, have tried but failed to overhaul the state-owned carrier.
Nepal Airlines is carrying debts of over NPR51 billion rupees (USD368 million) due to financial mismanagement, corrupt aircraft orders, ongoing aircraft technical issues, and the widespread unwillingness of potential lenders to supply more funds to allow the airline to overhaul its fleet and operations.
