Nepal’s aviation industry, known for its accident-prone topography, has experienced 59 domestic aircraft accidents, 7 foreign aircraft accidents, and 34 helicopter accidents. Data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal show that plane crashes occur nearly every year, highlighting the fragile state of the aviation sector and air travel safety in Nepal.
History of Aviation in Nepal
The history of aviation in Nepal dates back to the early 1950s, when Indian aircraft made their way to a grazing field in Gaucharan, Kathmandu, often requiring cows to be shooed away for the touchdown. Before 1951, only a few foreigners—primarily British officers and scholars—had visited Nepal. Civil aviation services formally started in 1953 with three American-made DC-3 Dakotas operated by an Indian company.
Nepal established its airline, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNA), in 1958 with a single DC-3, offering limited services to Indian cities and a few domestic destinations. Over the following decades, RNA expanded its fleet with Twin Otters, Pilatus Porters, and turboprop Fokker F-27s. By the early 1970s, it introduced Hawker Siddeley HS-748 turboprops and Boeing 727 jet airliners, later replaced by Boeing 757s. Today, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) operates flights to 10 international destinations and connects over 25 domestic locations, playing a vital role in the country’s connectivity.
Post-Pandemic Era
The COVID-19 pandemic was an era of affordable flights as airlines launched promotional fares to attract passengers. However, as COVID cases declined, the government imposed a 13 percent VAT on air tickets from mid-September 2022, making flying more expensive. This tax, along with a prior increase in service charges for domestic and international passengers, led to a 25 percent hike in fares on many routes by 2023 compared to the previous year.
According to stakeholders, these increased costs have caused domestic air ticket sales to drop by 40%, forcing many passengers to opt for more affordable alternatives. The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) delayed implementing the VAT policy until mid-September, warning that it would make Nepal a more expensive tourist destination and reduce international arrivals.
Challenges in Aviation Infrastructure
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has struggled to sell five grounded Chinese aircraft purchased 13 years ago. Grounded since 2020 due to high operating costs, these planes now have an estimated scrap value of $3 million. Despite issuing global tender notices twice, no buyers have shown interest.
Political motives and private sector interests have heavily influenced situations of mismanagement in the aviation sector. Each new ministry initiates efforts to replace the Chinese planes with Western-made turboprops. Recently, Nepal Rastra Bank’s former governor, Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, led a committee that recommended selling USD 33 million worth of Nepal Airlines’ shares in Soaltee Hotel to fund new planes. But a tourism ministry official suggested that this could lead to another corruption case.
In April 2024, Nepal’s anti-corruption agency concluded a five-year investigation into the $209.6 million Airbus deal—the largest in the country’s aviation history. The purchase of two Airbus A330 jets resulted in a government loss of $13.38 million, implicating 32 individuals in financial irregularities.
Air Transportation and air passenger carried estimated by the International Civil Aviation Organization, Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, and ICAO staff.
Road Transport: An Equally Risky Alternative
For many Nepalis, road transport is the only alternative to air travel, but it is equally risky. Road accidents in Nepal account for approximately 4,654 deaths annually, according to WHO data from 2020, equating to 2.9% of total deaths. The National Planning Commission estimates a road accident death rate of 15.9 per 100,000 people.
Yogeshwori Bhattarai, a cancer patient who must fly quarterly to Kathmandu for chemotherapy, shares her predicament: “I physically cannot handle road transport and am forced to pay overpriced flight tickets.
The Grim Outlook
The future of Nepali aviation appears bleak. Investigations into crashes often take years, with most concluding that “pilot error” was the cause, while systemic issues remain unaddressed. Until these underlying problems are tackled, the sector will continue to grapple with safety, management, and financial challenges.
Sudipa Mahato is a junior editor at Nepal Connect