Nepal Airlines was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Kathmandu with Tribhuvan International Airport as its main hub. It operates Airbus A330-200 widebodies and A320-200 narrowbodies, opened a direct Kathmandu to Guangzhou passenger service in November 2025, and carries China to Nepal cargo in A330 belly holds. The airline operates no freighters and no long-haul routes to the Americas or Europe.
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), formerly Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), was founded in July 1958 under the Nepalese Companies Act and is the oldest airline in Nepal and the country's flag carrier. It began with a single Douglas DC-3 on domestic routes and early international services to Patna, Kolkata and Delhi. Boeing 727 jets arrived in 1972, taking the airline into the jet age, and the present name was adopted in 2003. The airline has moved through three generations, from propeller aircraft to jets and now to Airbus widebodies.
The company is headquartered in Kathmandu and uses Tribhuvan International Airport (IATA KTM) as its main hub. IATA code RA, ICAO code RNA and radio callsign Royal Nepal. The website is nepalairlines.com.np. It employs more than 500 people and is the largest international airline in Nepal, majority state-owned and serving as the country's flag carrier and principal air gateway for international travel and trade.
Nepal Airlines is positioned as the flag carrier, operating Nepalese domestic feeder routes and regional international services in Asia. International points cover Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Bangkok, Doha, Hong Kong and Osaka Kansai, plus Guangzhou. Domestic routes use small De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops into mountain airfields such as Pokhara, Dang Deukhuri, Janakpur and Lukla.
For Chinese shippers, Nepal Airlines flies a direct Kathmandu to Guangzhou passenger service whose A330-200 belly holds can take urgent Chinese exports to Nepal. The airline operates no freighters and no transatlantic or long-haul American routes.
Nepal Airlines is Nepal's only flag carrier and shares the domestic market with Himalaya Airlines, Buddha Air and Shree Airlines. It has a widebody advantage on long international routes, while other carriers mostly operate narrowbodies and regional turboprops. Chinese shippers can choose the carrier that fits their destination and transit time.
Nepal lies on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, bordered by Tibet to the north and by India to the east, west and south. Kathmandu sits in a central valley and is the political, economic and cultural center. Tribhuvan International Airport is the country's only international airport and its air gateway to the world. Nepal is a long rectangle wedged between China and India.
The Nepal Airlines fleet consists of Airbus widebodies, Airbus narrowbodies and DHC-6 turboprop feeders, all owned rather than leased.
| Aircraft type | Number | Use | Belly payload reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330-200 | 2 aircraft | Long-haul international routes (Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Osaka, Doha, Kuala Lumpur) | About 12 to 15 tonnes |
| Airbus A320-200 | 2 aircraft | Regional international and domestic mainline routes | About 3 to 4 tonnes |
| DHC-6 Twin Otter | 3 aircraft | Domestic mountain airfield sectors in Nepal | About 1 tonne |
The A330-200 has the highest payload in the Nepal Airlines fleet, with about 274 seats in two classes (18 business, 256 economy). The Guangzhou to Kathmandu route is flown by the A330-200, whose widebody belly has room for checked baggage and cargo containers, suited to urgent Chinese machinery and electrical products, textiles and garments, communications equipment and cross-border e-commerce cargo. The lower deck takes PMC pallets and LD3 containers.
Nepal Airlines operates no freighters. Bulk construction materials and commodities usually transit Kolkata in India or Dhaka in Bangladesh, or enter Nepal by road across the China-Nepal border at the Gyirong or Zhangmu gateways. Belly capacity suits small, urgent shipments.
The A330-200 has ample belly space on the Kathmandu to Guangzhou route and takes PMC and AKE standard containers. Chinese exporters can palletise urgent cargo and load it directly, cutting transit time. For oversize pieces, door dimensions and piece weight limits must be confirmed in advance so the cargo can be loaded on arrival.
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is the main type for mountain transport in Nepal and can use short dirt strips at Lukla and in the Everest region. Its payload is very small and it is unsuited to international cargo, serving only domestic passenger and small supply flights. Lukla is one of the world's most challenging airports.
Nepal Airlines opened a direct Kathmandu to Guangzhou passenger service on 30 November 2025, three times a week on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. It departs Kathmandu at 21:50 local time and arrives at Guangzhou Baiyun the next day; the return leaves Guangzhou on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The route is flown by the A330-200 and is the airline's only direct passenger service to mainland China. Air cargo transit from south China to Nepal improved markedly once it opened.
Guangzhou Baiyun is the largest international air hub in southern China, and exporters in the region can consolidate locally and load directly. Exporters in east and north China can truck cargo to Guangzhou for consolidation, or transit via Chengdu, Kunming or other carriers to Kathmandu. The direct Guangzhou route gives south China exporters a fast channel to Nepal with fewer connections.
Besides Guangzhou, Nepal Airlines operates a passenger service from Kathmandu to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong route mainly serves business and leisure traffic, and its belly can also take small quantities of cargo from south China via Hong Kong to Kathmandu. Hong Kong is an international air cargo hub, so cargo can transit there to Kathmandu, which suits high-value shipments.
Routes from other Chinese cities such as Chengdu and Lhasa to Kathmandu are operated by Sichuan Airlines, Himalaya Airlines and other carriers; Nepal Airlines does not serve those points. Chinese shippers can pick the nearest direct gateway to the cargo origin, with Chengdu or Lhasa for the southwest.
The opening of the Guangzhou to Kathmandu route gave south China exporters their first direct Nepal Airlines channel. Previously most China to Kathmandu cargo transited Kunming, Chengdu or Delhi. The direct service shortens transit from south China, cuts connections and damage risk and improves reliability.
Nepal Airlines flies Guangzhou to Kathmandu only three times a week and belly capacity is limited. Chinese exporters should book early, especially in the tourist season from September to November and around festivals. For regular shippers we can help secure capacity and negotiate better rates.
Nepal is an important trading partner for China in the southwest. China has for years been Nepal's largest trading partner and largest source of imports. Chinese exports to Nepal are mainly machinery and electrical products, textiles and garments, communications equipment, electronics, building materials, hardware tools, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and the Nepalese market depends heavily on Chinese goods.
Nepal has strong infrastructure needs, and Chinese companies take part in hydropower, road, airport and housing projects there. A significant share of the project equipment, spares and materials enters Nepal by air or road. Urgent spares and samples suit belly carriage, while large equipment moves by the China-Nepal highway or by sea to Kolkata.
Nepal's main exports to China include pashmina carpets, handicrafts, ebony crafts, Buddha statues and curry spices. Some high-value goods move back to China in the belly of the Kathmandu to Guangzhou service. Handmade carpets are an important source of export earnings for Nepal.
There are two main road gateways between China and Nepal: Gyirong, via Shigatse in Tibet, and Zhangmu, via Nyalam. Road suits bulk cargo and air suits urgent and high-value shipments, and the two can be combined shipment by shipment.
Large Chinese-involved projects in Nepal include the Upper Trishuli hydropower station, the Terai canal, Pokhara International Airport and the Kathmandu outer ring road. Project equipment and materials mostly move by sea to Kolkata and then by road to Kathmandu, or overland on the China-Nepal highway, while urgent spares and samples fly in the belly of the Guangzhou service. Pokhara International Airport is a Chinese-funded project and is in operation.
Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange for Nepal, with more than 1 million international visitors a year. Everest, Annapurna Base Camp, Phewa Lake at Pokhara and Chitwan National Park are the main destinations. Chinese visitor numbers have grown quickly in recent years, and belly capacity also carries some tourist shopping and personal effects. The tourist peak runs from September to November and from March to April.
Nepali handmade carpets and pashmina products are well known in Europe, and some high-value carpets and handicrafts move back to China in the belly of the Kathmandu to Guangzhou service for distribution nationwide. China is an important re-export market for Nepalese handicrafts.
Confirm the cargo weight, dimensions and final destination (Kathmandu or another Nepalese city) and choose Guangzhou Baiyun as the origin gateway. We recommend an A330-200 belly plan based on the cargo and explain the weight and size limits.
Ask us to check belly capacity on the Nepal Airlines Kathmandu to Guangzhou service and confirm the schedule (outbound Sunday, Wednesday and Friday) and rate, then sign the shipping instruction. Booking one to two weeks ahead is advised in the tourist season.
Deliver and declare at Guangzhou Baiyun for the A330-200 direct flight to Kathmandu Tribhuvan. We work with a customs broker in Kathmandu to help the consignee complete import clearance and truck delivery.
Nepal Airlines radiates from Kathmandu to major Asian cities. International points include Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru in South Asia; Dubai and Doha in the Middle East; Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok in Southeast Asia; and Hong Kong and Osaka Kansai in East Asia. Guangzhou opened in November 2025 and is the only point in mainland China. The airline does not serve Europe or the Americas.
Nepal Airlines does not serve Europe, North America or Oceania. Cargo from China toward Europe can connect at Guangzhou or Hong Kong to other carriers. The A330-200 widebodies fly the longer points of Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Osaka Kansai, Doha and Kuala Lumpur; the A320-200 narrowbodies fly shorter South and Southeast Asian points such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Bangkok.
Domestically, Nepal Airlines uses DHC-6 Twin Otters into mountain airfields at Pokhara, Dang Deukhuri, Janakpur, Lukla and in the Everest region. These routes mainly carry passengers and small supplies and do not take international cargo. The DHC-6 can use dirt strips as short as 400 metres and is irreplaceable for mountain transport in Nepal.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) handles air cargo toward Nepal. For the Nepal Airlines direct Guangzhou to Kathmandu route we provide the following services that Chinese shippers can use directly.
Delivery at Guangzhou Baiyun: Chinese exports from south China can be handed over at Guangzhou Baiyun, and we handle consolidation, export declaration and Nepal Airlines belly booking. For customers needing cross-region consolidation, we can truck cargo from east, north and southwest China to Guangzhou for loading.
Kathmandu arrival tracking: we track the air waybill from departure in China and, after arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan, help the consignee arrange clearance and domestic distribution. We work with a customs broker and truck fleet in Kathmandu covering Pokhara, Chitwan, Janakpur and other main cities.
Road and air combinations: for bulk cargo we can combine road transport across the China-Nepal border at Gyirong or Zhangmu with air freight, balancing cost and transit time. Air suits urgent and high-value cargo, road suits bulk low-priority building materials and equipment, and the two can be switched and combined by shipment.
We recommend the best transport mode for the transit time and budget. For regular shippers we can sign annual cargo agreements with Nepal Airlines to secure capacity and preferential rates, protecting supply in peak season.
We have an operating station at Guangzhou Baiyun offering pickup, palletising, declaration and loading as one service. For oversize cargo needing pallets, we can build up the pallet in our Guangzhou warehouse and hand it over directly, saving waiting time and handling cost for the consignee.
Clearance at Kathmandu Tribhuvan is handled end to end by our partner customs broker. Chinese shippers only need to provide the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin, and we handle clearance, inspection and truck delivery on arrival in Nepal.
Yes. Nepal Airlines opened a direct Kathmandu to Guangzhou passenger service on 30 November 2025, three times a week (outbound Sunday, Wednesday and Friday). It also flies Kathmandu to Hong Kong. It does not fly to Chengdu, Lhasa or Beijing; other Chinese cities to Kathmandu are served by Sichuan Airlines and others.
No. Nepal Airlines operates no freighters and all cargo depends on passenger belly holds. A330-200 belly payload is about 12 to 15 tonnes and A320-200 belly payload about 3 to 4 tonnes. Bulk cargo needs other carriers or road transport across the China-Nepal border.
It is operated by Nepal Airlines under RA flight numbers from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Kathmandu Tribhuvan, with a flight time of about 4 hours and no intermediate stop. Exact flight numbers and times follow the latest Nepal Airlines schedule.
About 7 aircraft: 2 Airbus A330-200 widebodies, 2 Airbus A320-200 narrowbodies and 3 DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprop feeders. It carries about 4.5 million passengers a year to about 36 domestic and international points. The fleet is entirely owned, with no leased aircraft.
Small, urgent consignments of machinery and electrical products, textiles and garments, communications equipment accessories, consumer electronics, cross-border e-commerce parcels, pharmaceutical samples and urgent project spares. Bulk construction materials should go by road across the China-Nepal border at Gyirong or Zhangmu, or by sea to Kolkata and then road to Kathmandu.
Tribhuvan is Nepal's only international airport, with a cargo terminal and ground handling facilities. Kathmandu sits at about 1,400 metres in a valley, and night operations are restricted. After arrival, our partner customs broker handles clearance and truck delivery.
It was founded in July 1958 as Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation and renamed Nepal Airlines in 2003. It is the oldest airline in Nepal and the country's flag carrier.
Check capacity and rates with us (Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited), sign the shipping instruction and deliver at Guangzhou Baiyun. We handle export declaration, air carriage, Kathmandu clearance and last-mile delivery as one integrated logistics plan.
Loading at the Chinese gateway, Nepal Airlines A330 direct to Kathmandu, then distribution to Nepalese cities. Suited to small urgent shipments and cross-border e-commerce parcels; bulk construction materials should go by road across the China-Nepal border at Gyirong or Zhangmu, or by sea to Kolkata and then road to Kathmandu.
Contact Goodhope Freight for belly rates from Guangzhou to Kathmandu