Kathmandu, May 3:The government will take up the policy of transparency for the activities of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), said Tarini Dutta Chataut, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

“Since the government is working on the basis of transparency with the commitment to fight corruption, the same official policy will be applicable in case of RNAC,” he said speaking during a programme at the national flag carrier’s headquarters today.

“In the future, RNAC should not lease aircraft in haste as a result of the created   compelling situation like it used to happen in the past,” he stressed, adding, “the trend of initiating timely tender process to lease aircraft should be started now.”

Chataut was referring to the series of RNAC’s aircraft-leasing deals that have generated controversies in the last half a decade. In most of the cases, the national flag carrier has clinched the lease deal in the eleventh-hour when the lease period of its previously leased aircraft would be on the verge of expiry.

The national airline has spent above 50 million US dollars on aircraft leasing in the last five years. To press in its around one dozen international routes, RNAC needs at least three jets. It has two Boeing 757s of its own while it has been time and again leasing the third aircraft from different suppliers.

Chataut also assured that the government will play a positive role to strengthen RNAC’s fleet. He said that the national flag carrier should increase its efficiency and expand its international routes. “Besides the government’s effort, the employees of the corporation should also try their every best to take their institution to soaring heights.”

RNAC, according to Chataut, may have the cosmetic look of a rich institution but in reality it is not. “If it can learn lessons from its past mistakes, there is no reason why the corporation cannot become a prosperous institution.”

Speaking during the same occasion, Hari Bhakta Shrestha, the recently appointed Executive Chairman of the Corporation said that RNAC itself will decide on issues that fall within its jurisdiction. “The ministry (Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation) will be requested only on such issues that require the government’s decision.”

Stressing on the need to strengthen RNAC’s fleet, Shrestha said that the government’s help is necessary to bring in two wide-bodied aircraft for the corporation’s operation.

“In a bid to encourage the staff of the corporation and to enhance their efficiency, few steps have already been taken,” said Shrestha. “Appropriate measures have also been taken to amend the Employees’ Service Regulation 1974.”