Kathmandu. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the national flag carrier, is to operate direct flights to Guangzhou of China from September 9. Nepal Airlines is going to start Kathmandu-Guangzhou-Kathmandu flight service for the first time.

According to NAC Executive Chairman Yubaraj Adhikari, the NOC has completed all technical preparations for the purpose. The corporation has already received permission for flights to Guangzhou. The corporation has set a schedule to operate three regular flights every week. The first flight will take off on October 22, the second on October 26 and then on October 30, October 15 and 6. After that, there would be direct flights to Guangzhou every Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday. According to NAC, the one-way fare from Kathmandu to Guangzhou has been fixed at Rs 30,000 and two-way fare at Rs 50,000.

Chairman Adhikari said that after a long time, he has been able to expand flight service to this important city of China. The corporation is preparing to start direct flights from Kathmandu to South Korea and Australia in the near future.

At present, China Southern is operating regular flights between Kathmandu and Guangzhou. Himalaya Airlines has been operating regular flights from Nepal on this route. It has been estimated that the flight to Guangzhou, which has a majority of Nepalis, could benefit the corporation financially.

Flights to 11 destinations in 9 countries

With the Guangzhou flight, the flag carrier airline will now operate regular flights to 11 destinations of nine countries. Currently, Nepal Airlines Corporation has two narrow-body and two wide-body aircraft operating international flights to Doha (Qatar), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (UAE), Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore (India), Bangkok (Thailand), Dammam (Saudi Arabia) and Narita (Japan).

The national flag carrier has been playing a historical role in expanding diplomatic relations and attracting more foreign tourists through flights to international destinations, which is associated with the pride and identity of the country, and the corporation believes that it will continue to do so in the days to come.