Nepal Airlines plans USD 34.5 million global tender for A330 fleet overhaul

Dhaka: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing a global tender worth approximately NPR 5 billion, equivalent to USD 34.5 million, for the overhaul of its widebody fleet of two Airbus A330-200s. The aircraft, Makalu (9N-ALZ) and Annapurna (9N-ALY), are approaching the regulatory overhaul threshold of 6,000 flight cycles, seven years after entering service.

NAC Technical Spokesperson Devendra Pun said Makalu has around 400 flight cycles remaining, while Annapurna has about 500 cycles left. “We are at a critical stage for initiating the overhaul process,” Pun noted, adding that maintenance will be conducted sequentially, with Makalu scheduled for mid-September 2026 and Annapurna by mid-January 2027.

The tender will cover both aircraft under a single contract and comply with Nepal’s Public Procurement Act. The process requires an eight- to twelve-month lead time, including a 45-day notice period, evaluation of objections, technical and financial assessments, and contract finalization. By law, the contract must be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder.

Each A330 overhaul is expected to take at least four months, coinciding with Nepal’s major festivals, Dashain and Tihar. To reduce operational disruptions, NAC is preparing a separate tender to lease engines rather than entire aircraft. “Leasing engines is a more viable solution,” Pun said.

The overhaul comes amid global supply chain challenges and aircraft delivery backlogs, which could affect maintenance schedules. NAC acquired Makalu and Annapurna from France’s AAR company in mid-2018, and timely completion of the overhauls remains a top operational priority.

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