The Parliamentary Internat-ional Relations and Labour Committee on Sunday directed the Tourism Ministry to furnish an acceptable explanation for the delay in acquiring Chinese aircraft. The ministry has been given 15 days to submit its explanation.

The planned procurement of four Chinese-made aircraft—an MA60 and three Y12e—has been put on hold for more than a year after Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) reported many problems with the planes delivered in 2014. On November 29, 2012, NAC and AVIC International Holding Corporation, the supplier of the problem-plagued MA60 and Y12e aircraft, had signed a commercial agreement for six aircraft.

The 56-seater MA60, which Nepal had received as gift from China, arrived in Kathmandu on April 27, 2014, and has been operating with a load restriction on the Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Bhadrapur and Pokhara sectors.

Another Chinese-gifted aircraft—17-seater Y12e—landed in Kathmandu on November 3, 2014. It can be used to serve remote airfields like Lukla, Jomsom, Manang, Simikot, Rara, Jumla and Dolpa with a load restriction.

Tourism Secretary Prem Rai told the committee they have tabled a proposal at the Cabinet seeking permission to allow NAC to sign another agreement with AVIC as the previous deal did not ensure NAC’s benefits to operate the aircraft in the Nepali skies. “We expect the Cabinet’s approval soon,” he told the lawmakers.

A government fact-finding committee had found the MA60’s utilisation was very poor in Nepal. NAC had been operating only eight weekly flights with the plane. The Y12e has been grounded for several months due to a shortage of pilots. It has still not been cleared for mountain airfields due to regulatory restrictions.

China has provided one MA60 and one Y12e worth Rs2.94 billion as gifts. The other aircraft are being bought with a soft loan of Rs3.72 billion provided by China’s EXIM Bank. NAC officials said the bank has made more than 60 percent down payment to the aircraft manufacturer.