Kathmandu – Domestic flights of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been completely suspended. The only Twin Otter aircraft currently operating domestic flights has been grounded, causing a complete halt in domestic flights.

Of the two Twin Otter aircraft operating, one was grounded since last May. The other aircraft was also grounded on Sunday, causing domestic flights to be completely suspended, said Ramesh Poudel, spokesperson for the Nepal Airlines Corporation.

Domestic flights have been suspended since yesterday as one of the two Twin Otters in operation is already grounded and the engine of the other aircraft has also expired .

A tender has already been called for that and a contract has been signed. The agreement was to deliver the engine within 45 days of the contract. However, even though its deadline has passed, it has not been delivered,’ he said.

He said that despite trying to see if the engine he had could be used to operate the aircraft, it was not successful.

Nepal Airlines had been flying two Twin Otters to 20 different remote destinations. Passengers traveling to remote areas will suffer after domestic flights were stopped.