Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the country’s national flag carrier, has purchased a wide-body aircraft for the first time.
The Airbus A330-200, which has been named Annapurna, touched down at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu from France on 28th June 2018, Thursday.
The widebody aircraft comprises a two-class cabin configuration while has the seating capacity of 274 passengers including 18 in business class and 256 in economy class.
In April last year, NAC had signed a purchase agreement with the United States-based AAR Corporation to buy two Airbus 330-200 series wide-body aircraft worth $209.6 million. Nepal is expected to receive the second Airbus by August. AAR Corporation is providing the aircraft to NAC in partnership with German Capital and Hi-Fly Airlines.
The addition of 274-seater wide-body aircraft into the fleet of Nepal Airlines is expected to be a milestone in the country’s tourism industry as it will help Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier to expand its international flight destinations.
NAC plans to start the first commercial flight with the new Airbus A330-200 aircraft to Dubai on August 1 and gradually to other popular destinations. Currently, NAC is conducting international flights through two narrow-body Airbus aircraft and one Boeing 757 to nine international destinations.
The first-ever acquisition of wide-body aircraft is expected to help the national flag carrier to increase its market share among other international airlines.
