Kathmandu, April 19 -- Nepal Airlines has formally asked its Chinese supplier to take back six aircraft delivered around a decade ago.

The planes-four 17-seater Y12e aircraft and two 56-seater MA60 aircraft-were acquired between 2014 and 2018 under a deal that involved both grants and loans totalling Rs6.66 billion. One of the aircraft was lost in a crash in Nepalgunj.

Since 2020, the five remaining planes have been parked unused on the eastern edge of the runway at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. According to airline officials, the aircraft are deteriorating from disuse, with most of them visibly rotting.

These grounded planes continue to cost the airline significantly, with insurance, parking, and maintenance cost amoun...