New GM of Nepal Airlines Corp. commits to enhance image of national carrier
Mr.Madan Kharel is the newly appointed General Manager of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC). The Government of Nepal has appointed Kharel to the top executive of the national flag carrier for four years.
An MBA from the Tribhuvan University (TU), Kharel joined the Nepal Airlines in 1986. Prior to his appointment to the NAC’s chief executive, Kharel was carrying out his responsibility as the director at the corporation’s commercial department. As somebody who had taught at the TU for some years, he had been instrumental in establishing the management faculty at Mechi Multiple Campus in Bhadrapur.
Talking to journalist Ballav Dahal in Kathmandu , the experienced and self-motivated administrator of NAC pledged that he would leave no stone unturned to restore the ailing national carrier’s image as a reliable and punctual airline. Excerpts:
What are your plans and programmes?
I have come up with some plans of developing the national carrier into a strong and efficient airline. Operation, engineering and marketing are the core business areas of an airline. By talking all the colleagues at the corporation in confidence, I will remain effortful in enhancing efficiency of those departments. Upgrading services of the carrier is equally important. As we have to compete with a lot of efficient international airlines, we must improve our service quality. We also need to focus on restoring our image as a punctual and reliable carrier.
After assuming my office on December 9 , I have started holding consultations with the chiefs of those departments in order to make the bodies more efficient at soon as possible. I am familiar with several longstanding problems with the corporation. However, I am optimistic that we can deal with such problems and take the national flag carrier to a new height in the near future.
We will focus on expanding both domestic and international services. For this, we need some aircrafts. It is needless to say that a shortage of aircraft has been a major hindrance facing the airline. The scarcity of human resources, both technical as well as administrative, is another challenge before us. We are going to formulate plans and policies to hire human resources, including pilots and engineers.
China has agreed to provide us with six aircrafts. We now have five aircrafts for the domestic sector. However, only two of them are in operation. We are planning to carry out maintenance of the three aircraft and bring them into operation soon. So, we will have 11 aircraft for the domestic sector after we receive the six aircraft from China. However, the process of getting the aircraft from the northern neighbour has yet to be completed. We still need to sign two agreements with the concerned Chinese bodies. We are sure that we will get the aircraft in the next five months.
We will also work on purchasing some wide-body aircrafts because the existing ones are aged. The corporation has been forced to spend a lot of money for carrying out maintenance of the aircrafts. Despite having a good load factor, the airline suffers a loss. So, we must replace these aircrafts with brand new ones.
What are other challenges facing the airline?
Amending laws is also a challenge for us. As per the existing laws, we cannot exchange engines of the aircraft. The laws only allow us to carrying out maintenance of the aircraft. However, the law amendment process has reached its final stage. Once the legal provision is amended, we can purchase the engines and bring the grounded aircraft to operation. This is also the international practice.
How have you felt after getting appointed as the national carrier’s chief executive?
It is a matter of pride for me to get this opportunity. As I have been selected through the open competition, I have taken it a great challenge as well. I will remain dedicated to the development of the national carrier.
How do you see the future of the aviation industry in the country?
This industry will keep growing in the country. The number of air passengers has been increasing significantly because of the improving economic condition of the people. In addition, the people’s habits have been also changing with the passage of time.
As Nepal has adopted a liberal sky policy, a lot of international airlines have been operating their flights to and from Kathmandu. The number of domestic airlines has also been on the rise over the years. They have added their flights as well as fleets.
While talking about the NAC, it can also operate six-seven wide-body aircraft on different international routes. We can easily operate 10-11 aircrafts on various domestic routes. The demand has been growing annually.
How has the country’s political instability affected the NAC?
The longstanding political instability has not only hit the national carrier but also many other sectors. As politics is a major driving force, it can play a vital role in bringing about desirable socio-economic changes if it is on the right track.
The entire tourism industry has been lobbying hard for developing the NAC into a more efficient carrier. What message do you want to convey to the industry?
It needs no mention that a national carrier of any country is the heart of the tourism industry. The entire NAC family is grateful to the tourism industry for its continued support and cooperation. Several tourism-related associations such as Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) have kept raising their voices in favour of strengthening the national carrier. I would like to call upon one and all, including tourism entrepreneurs and associations, to extend their necessary support and cooperation to us for strengthening the NAC.
