Nepal Airlines Faces Governance Crisis Amid Allegations of Nepotism and Financial Irregularities
Kathmandu. Serious questions regarding institutional governance and transparency have been raised within the national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), due to rampant nepotism, irregular appointments, and salary disparities.
Recent facts reveal that the corporation's leadership has prioritized personal and familial interests over the institution's welfare, leading to employee dissatisfaction and damaging the organization's reputation, according to stakeholders.
At the center of the controversy is Operations Director Captain Subash Rijal. Rijal is accused of prioritizing his relative, First Officer Roshan Koirala, for appointment and training within the Airbus fleet. Sources claim that Koirala was recommended for type-rating training ahead of other qualified candidates by bypassing fair selection and examination processes. However, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation intervened and halted Koirala's training process. While this move is seen as a positive step toward governance, a high-ranking official noted that much remains to be done to reform the corporation.
The official highlighted deep-seated mismanagement within the organization. Facts have emerged that Operations Director Subash Rijal appointed his brother, Captain Shrawan Rijal, to the Airbus fleet under unusual terms and a high salary. Captain Shrawan Rijal receives a gross monthly salary of 1.25 million rupees, plus instructor and flight allowances, totaling approximately 2 million rupees per month. This amount is significantly higher than that of permanent pilots working at the corporation. More surprisingly, it is understood that Captain Shrawan Rijal is also actively flying for SriLankan Airlines.
The fact that one individual is employed by two airlines constitutes a direct violation of 'dual employment' rules, and management is accused of turning a blind eye to this practice.
Captain Shrawan Rijal's history with the corporation also appears controversial. Having left the organization decades ago, he was re-entered despite the opposition of the then-Managing Director, Captain KB Limbu.
According to sources, his re-appointment was forced upon the then-leadership due to the influence and pressure of his father, GP Rijal. This confirms that nepotism and the influence of power centers are not new but deeply rooted issues within the corporation.
Manipulation in human resource management has also been observed. Despite the availability of experienced 'Designated Check Captains' like Captain Vijay Lama, and Captain Amrit Maharjan having completed the DCP course from the Civil Aviation Authority, they have not been appointed. It is claimed that Captain Maharjan was sidelined to artificially create a shortage of DCPs, providing a pretext to bring in relatives on contract. The recruitment process for in-house instructor pilots, called on 16 February 2026, is also said to have been halted due to the personal interests of the Operations Director.
Experts argue that while management cites a manpower shortage, the reality is different. They contend that with flight cuts due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and aircraft expected to be grounded for engine maintenance in the coming days, additional pilots are not required.
Meanwhile, extreme salary disparities have created a state of rebellion among senior pilots. Sources claim that after Captain MM Dangol and Captain SK Shrestha expressed dissatisfaction, their salaries were quietly increased by management. Conversely, while Captain Vijay Lama receives approximately 1.2 million rupees, permanent pilot Captain Bhawana Pant, in a similar role, receives a significantly lower salary.
While the government's recent proactive stance in the Koirala case has sparked some hope, stakeholders conclude that the future of the national flag carrier will not be secure until the web of nepotism and financial irregularities within the corporation is dismantled.
Demands have been raised for an independent, high-level investigation into these matters, for action to be taken against those responsible, and for the implementation of a transparent appointment system.
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
