Kathmandu, November 2
Nepal Airlines’ continued flights to Saudi Arabia have been thrown into uncertainty after the national flag carrier failed to renew the contract of its General Sales Agent (GSA) in the country.
The airline’s existing GSA contract has expired, and the lack of a renewal has raised questions about the continuity of its operations at the Saudi station.
According to sources at Nepal Airlines, Al Faisalia Modern Aviation has been serving as the airline’s GSA in Saudi Arabia. Its contract was due for renewal by July 31.
However, the airline’s management has neither renewed the existing contract nor moved forward with the process of appointing a new GSA, the sources said.
After the contract was not renewed, the existing GSA informed Nepal Airlines by email that it could no longer continue working on the airline’s behalf.
The company has said it will continue providing services throughout November but will stop working from December 1. It had been appointed for a five-year term, which expired in July.
A GSA handles local sales, marketing and legal procedures, coordinates with regulatory authorities in the country concerned and assists with visa-related processes for airline employees.
Saudi Arabia is a major destination for Nepali migrant workers, with an estimated 500,000 Nepalis working there. However, the national flag carrier has not been able to establish a strong presence in the market.
Nepal Airlines currently operates one flight a week to Saudi Arabia. Four recent flights have already been cancelled amid the ongoing conflict in the region, leaving hundreds of Nepalis uncertain about their travel plans.
