Nepal to receive second Chinese plane on 25 July

The Nepal government which has recently received the first ever China made aircraft is all set to receive another aircraft later this month under a six-aircraft deal between Nepal and China, officials said Wednesday.

The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) received a "delivery date" from the Chinese airplane maker, the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, last weekend, for delivering a 17-seater twin-engine Y12e on July 25.

The Chinese manufacturer already handed over the Y12e to officials from NAC, Nepal's national flag carrier, this week in China.

"With the handing over of the plane to the Nepali authorities, the Chinese Y12e is all set to come to Nepal on July 25," NAC spokesperson Saroj Kasaju told Xinhua.

On April 27, Nepal received the first China-made plane, a 58- seater Modern Ark 60 (MA60), which commences its formal operation from July 25.

"The upcoming plane will begin commercial operation after two weeks of its arrival in Nepal," added Kasaju.

NAC officials said the Y12e that will make flights to the western remote parts of the Himalayan country will receive permit for operation within a week from the aviation regulatory body.

The NAC said it will complete all paper works and formalities before the plane arrives to bring it into the operation at the earliest date.