Nepal gets first Chinese MA 60 aircraft after 28 years
A Chinese aircraft Modern Ark 60 (MA60) landed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu on April 27, 2014. The 58 seatter MA60 aircraft has been handed over to Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) from the Chinese Government. The aircraft that took off from China’s Kunming finally landed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu at 1:14 PM.
The new MA 60 aircraft will be operated for domestic flight connecting a number of destinations including Biratnagar, Pokhara, Bhairawaha, Bhadrapur,Nepalganj and Dhangadi.
The Nepal government and travel profeesionals have highly evaluated arrival of first Chinese plane in Nepal as the country’s national flag carrier NAC is conducting its operations using two Boeings and a Twin Otter.
The Nepal government had signed an agreement with China to purchase six China-made airplanes on December 28, 2013, according to which Nepal will acquire two aircrafts, a 19-seater Harbin Y12E and a 58-seater Modern Ark 60 (MA60), on grant and three Harbin Y12E and a MA60 on concessional loan.
China will dispatch the second aircraft, a 19-seater Harbin Y12E on June 30, another MA60 on September 30 and all other remaining three Harbin Y12E on October 28 , 2014.
MA60, manufactured in 2000, is built by Xi’an Aircraft Industries Corporation. More than 80 MA60 planes are being used by several airlines in many countries across Asia, Africa and South America.
The Chinese plane MA 60 was greeted at TIA amid a ceremony reflecting Nepali culture .
