A real story:
"Hope that you enjoyed flying with us"; "Hope you will fly with us again": RNAC

Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, RNAC, is a big joke. It is a joke because the very name makes one to laugh even in solitude. Those who have had the honor to fly in this jocular Airline perhaps know better as to what RNAC meant to them at time of flying or waiting for hours and hours at the airports, whether it were Kathmandu or Bangkok, Hong Kong, Delhi or any other destinations it has. Different people have different experiences with the RNAC. However, one thing is common in all of them: the delay factor.

One could find thousands of personalities who have had horrible and hair-raising experiences flying this notorious Airlines. RNAC is notorious because its notoriety has spread the world over. Instead of feeling any shame on its spreading notoriety, the men at the RNAC in Kathmandu feel elated for reasons known to them only. While the managers in Kathmandu take it is a matter of pride, for others, it is a matter of shame and poppy shame.

Once upon a time, me and some of my colleagues were invited to Islamabad to attend a seminar. We were supposed to catch a Lahore flight in Delhi the same evening. A day ahead of the seminar, we entered the TIA terminal. At the Delhi counter, where we were supposed to check-in, we could see none to attend to the services. After an hour or two, some one comes in a stylish manner and informs us all that the flight is delayed for three hours. We had to abide by the instructions. Thanks that on the fourth hour of the delay the RNAC flew to Delhi. While landing at the Delhi airport, we could see the PIA flight to Lahore (we were supposed to aboard this PIA flight) taking off the Delhi ground.

How the men handling the RNAC in Delhi later treated us is any body’s guess. I just don’t want to reiterate the hardships through which we underwent taking into account that if I do so, many people who have their bookings of the RNAC will in all likelihood cancel their journey with the RNAC, Nepal’s flag carrier.

One gentleman who was flying recently to Bangkok by RNAC too has more or less same sort of plight. He enters the TIA terminal. Some one comes and says that the flight is delayed by five hours. The passengers are told to hold on their luggage trolleys. In between, none from the RNAC comes to sympathize the Bangkok bound passengers. After the completion of the first five hours of delay, some one comes and offers them all a breakfast coupon and smilingly announces that the flight to Bangkok will take yet another three hours. Passengers rush to use the coupons at the nearby restaurant downstairs. The owner of the restaurant explains that the coupons were acceptable only at the restaurant after you check-in and enter the departure lounge upstairs.

The same gentleman, unfortunately, books his ticket to Kathmandu through the RNAC. The same plight gets repeated giving an impression that RNAC wouldn’t change whether it is Kathmandu or any other foreign destinations.

Well after a tiring eight hours delay, the RNAC took off from Bangkok.

While landing in Kathmandu airport came a lovely and sweet voice from the cabin: " Hope that you all enjoyed flying with us. We hope you will fly with us again".

Laughter in the form of a big noise broke instantly the moment the passengers listened to RNAC’s fanatic appeal.

God bless you RNAC and your managers.

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