Kathmandu — Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is facing renewed operational challenges as several international flights have been rescheduled this week, while concerns grow over the maintenance deadline of one of its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft.

According to notices published by Nepal Airlines, flights serving Kuala Lumpur and Narita have been rescheduled for September 15 and 16, while flights to Doha have also been affected on September 14 and 15. The changes come as the national flag carrier continues to manage operational and maintenance pressures across its fleet.

One of the major concerns for the airline is its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft “Annapurna.” Reports indicate that the aircraft has approximately 170 flight cycles remaining before it requires a major overhaul. At its current operating schedule, the remaining cycles could be used up in roughly three months.

The maintenance deadline has raised concerns about the possibility of further disruptions if NAC fails to complete the necessary procurement and maintenance arrangements on time. Ensuring the aircraft undergoes its required overhaul is considered important for maintaining the airline’s international operations and avoiding additional flight cancellations or schedule changes.

Despite these operational difficulties, NAC's financial performance has shown signs of improvement. Preliminary figures indicate that the airline generated approximately Rs 23.4 billion in revenue during the last fiscal year. However, expenses are expected to reach around Rs 24.4 billion, leaving the corporation with an estimated Rs 1 billion deficit.

Passenger and ticket revenues have also increased. NAC reportedly collected approximately Rs 17.33 billion in ticket revenue during fiscal year 2025/26, while carrying around 576,421 passengers during the period.

However, the airline continues to face challenges in its domestic network. Flights to Suketar Airport in Taplejung have reportedly remained suspended since June 5, with adverse weather conditions, including persistent rainfall and fog, affecting operations.

The latest developments highlight the mixed situation facing Nepal Airlines. While passenger numbers and ticket revenue have increased, the carrier continues to deal with aircraft maintenance requirements, flight schedule disruptions and financial losses.

With the A330 “Annapurna” approaching its overhaul deadline, timely maintenance procurement and effective fleet management are likely to be critical for NAC in maintaining reliable services in the coming months.