PM Karki Orders Urgent Action on Nepal Airlines Stranded Engine
Nepal Airlines A320 Engine
14th November 2025, Kathmandu
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has issued a strong directive to the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) management, demanding the urgent return and operation of the national flag carrier’s A320 aircraft engine, which is currently stranded in Israel.
Nepal Airlines A320 Engine
The Prime Minister criticized the corporation for using expensive rented engines while its own publicly-funded property remains unused abroad.
The situation, which directly impacts the corporation’s financial health and public reputation, has sparked serious concerns over public accountability. The Prime Minister’s firm stance came during a high-level meeting with the NAC board and management officials at Singha Durbar.
The High Cost of Inaction
The core issue highlighted by PM Karki is the financial drain caused by bureaucratic inefficiency. She called the practice of leaving the NAC’s own engine idle while simultaneously incurring escalating costs for rented engines “unacceptable.”
“Our own engine is simply sitting there while the cost of renting continues to skyrocket. How can this be allowed?” she questioned. This financial mismanagement places a heavy burden on the public exchequer and detracts from the capital investment made in the national carrier.
No Room for Procedural Delays
PM Karki stressed that institutions funded by the public must exhibit efficiency and operational competence. She explicitly urged the NAC board and management to take immediate action and not use procedural delays as an excuse to avoid responsibility.
The directive is a clear message against the bureaucratic red tape that often plagues state-owned enterprises. The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity of decisive action and timely decision-making in the interest of the nation and the Nepal Airlines institution itself.
The Mandate for Public Accountability
The Prime Minister’s intervention places the financial and operational status of the Nepal Airlines directly under the spotlight of public accountability. This focus aligns with the current national mandate for improved governance and transparency in state enterprises.
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The NAC must now swiftly formulate and implement a concrete plan to retrieve the A320 Engine. Failure to act promptly risks further financial penalties, reputational damage, and potential legal action related to past lease disputes. The government expects the corporation to demonstrate visible reform within a short timeframe.
High-Level Officials Present
The meeting underscores the seriousness with which the government views the situation. Key figures present included Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal, Chief Secretary Ekanarayan Aryal, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Hari Prasad Mainali, NAC Chair Bikram Rai, and Acting General Manager Jankaraj Kalakheti.
The presence of top government officials signifies that the NAC’s progress on this matter will be monitored at the highest levels. This concentrated pressure is expected to force immediate and effective decision-making regarding the stranded A320 Engine.
Operational and Technology Impact
From an operational and technology perspective, the delay in bringing back the engine highlights critical gaps in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) planning at Nepal Airlines. Modern aviation management systems rely on meticulous scheduling and contingency plans for engine replacements.
The failure to manage the logistics and payments related to the engine’s repair or lease in Israel indicates a severe lapse in using modern management information systems (MIS) for tracking high-value assets.
Timely retrieval and re-integration of the A320 Engine are crucial steps towards maximizing the efficiency of the airline’s narrow-body fleet and reducing reliance on costly rented engines.
The Prime Minister’s direction is a clear call for the national carrier to embrace efficiency, transparency, and public accountability through better technological and managerial governance.
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