Melbourne, July 19 – Questions are being raised about Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)’s transparency after it was revealed that Executive Chairman Yuvraj Adhikari traveled to Singapore under the pretext of preparing for direct flights to Sydney, despite the airline not having secured official clearance from Australian authorities.
Although NAC has announced preparations for launching Kathmandu–Sydney flights, including securing landing slots at Kingsford Smith Airport and arranging ground operations, Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has yet to approve the service. CASA has reportedly withheld the green light over ongoing concerns related to aviation safety oversight in Nepal.
Despite this, Chairman Adhikari recently claimed to have held a meeting at Singapore’s Changi Airport regarding the proposed Sydney service. Sources inside the airline, however, suggest that the primary reason for the trip was to discuss maintenance of the corporation’s wide-body aircraft engines.
Adding to the confusion, the delegation to Singapore included NAC’s legal advisor and marketing chief—positions not directly involved in technical maintenance—raising further concerns that the trip was misrepresented. Critics argue this is part of a broader strategy to create the illusion that the airline is on the verge of launching direct flights to Australia, potentially misleading the public and stakeholders.
The airline had initially planned to commence twice-weekly flights to Sydney via Singapore on June 21, 2023, using its Airbus A330 fleet. While technical and logistical arrangements—including refueling, catering, and maintenance partnerships in both Sydney and Singapore—have reportedly been completed, the route remains grounded due to regulatory delays.
According to aviation experts, CASA’s approval process typically takes between 7 to 12 months, meaning direct flights may not begin at least till next year—if at all. Meanwhile, passengers continue to rely on connecting flights through airlines like Thai Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Cathay Pacific , Singapore Airlines Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines for travel between Kathmandu and Sydney.
In recent months, NAC’s executive team has faced increasing scrutiny for its management decisions and lack of transparency. The Singapore visit, widely publicized as part of “Sydney flight preparations,” is now being seen by some as a diversion from more pressing operational issues.
Despite the setbacks, Nepal Airlines maintains that all necessary documentation has been submitted and says it remains committed to launching the Kathmandu–Sydney route as soon as approval is secured. However, with no tickets currently available and no official schedule announced, the timeline for the long-promised direct flight remains uncertain.
