• Nepal Airlines to get Airbus A320-200 by February, 2015

    December 18, 2014
    Nepal Airlines to get Airbus A320-200 by February, 2015

    Travelbiznews Reporter ———-

    Kathmandu: Nepal Airlines Corporation will get first A A320-200 aircraft by February 2015 as per its deal with the European Airbus manufacturer.

    According to NAC, the first A320-200 aircraft ordered from Airbus is on the final assembly of engine and seats. The aircraft will have 158 seats, eight in business and 150 seats in economy class.

    The European manufacturer will deliver the first jet by February and the second jet is scheduled to arrive in Nepal by April, 2015.

    NAC signed a Rs 10 billion loan agreement with the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) to buy the two aircraft on June 18, 2013 commiting to repay the loan in eight years.

    NAC plans to resume services to more international destinations with two new aircrafts. At present, NAC operates two Boeings on international flights.

    Nepal’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) signed a firm order for two Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed in April 2013.

    “The A320 was chosen for its unique performance capability required for high altitude airport operations and its flexibility that enables it to be deployed on a wide variety of routes. Equipped with Sharklets to deliver unbeatable economics and up to four percent reduction in fuel burn, the aircraft will be the cornerstone of NAC’s modernised fleet,” Airbus said.

    Nepal Airlines currently flies to four international destinations and 25 domestic locations in the heart of the Himalayas.

    The new A320s are fully equipped with latest Required Navigation Performance (RNP) technologies, allowing the aircraft to fly precisely along predefined routes using state-of-the-art onboard navigation systems. This is particularly benefitial for operations at high altitude airports which are constrained by mountains such as the carrier’s main base in Kathmandu.

    The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family.

    Nearly 9,500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold to more than 380 customers and operators worldwide; making it the world’s best selling commercial jetliner ever according to Airbus.

    Meanwhile, the new Chinese Y-12e aircraft has started two daily flights on the Kathmandu-Pokhara sector. NAC received a Chinese-made 18-seater Y12e aircraft as part of a six- aircraft deal between Nepal and China recently.
    Dec. 17, 2014

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      KATHMANDU – Nepal has sharply increased Everest climbing permit fees and introduced a slew of measures aimed at controlling garbage pollution and preventing accidents on the planet’s tallest peak.

      Under the revised rules, every two climbers must hire a guide to climb any mountain over 8,000 metres, including Everest.Under the revised mountaineering regulations, the royalty fee for foreigners climbing Everest from the normal south route in the spring season (March-May) has been raised to $15,000 from the current $11,000 per person.

      The autumn season (September-November) climbing fee has increased from $5,500 to $7,500. At the same time, the permit cost per individual for the winter (December-February) and monsoon (June-August) seasons has risen from $2,750 to $3,750.The new rates will take effect on September 1, 2025.

      The last royalty fee revision was made on January 1, 2015, when the government switched from a group-based system to a uniform fee of $11,000 per climber for the spring season from the normal route.

      For Nepali climbers, the royalty fee for the normal route during the spring climbing season has doubled from Rs75,000 to Rs150,000.Climbing permits, previously valid for 75 days, will now be limited to 55 days. The reduced validity is aimed at streamlining climbing activities.

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      Base camps typically have designated toilet tents with barrels to collect human waste during expeditions. However, in higher camps, only a few agencies provide similar facilities, while others rely on pits. Very few climbers use biodegradable bags to transport waste from the summit.

      The government has also hiked the insurance coverage for high-altitude workers.Insurance coverage for high-altitude guides has gone up to Rs2 million ($14,400) from Rs1.5 million ($10,800), and for base camp workers, it has been raised to Rs1.5 million ($10,800) from Rs800,000 ($5,760).

      According to the Himalayan Database, which records all expeditions and deaths in the Himalayas, more than 200 people died on the Nepal side of Everest between 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first scaled the peak, and 2022.

      Nearly 8,900 people have summited the world’s highest peak from Nepal’s side since 1953.- Kathmandu Post , January 22, 2025

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