Nepal Airlines finally managed to sell its Boeing 757 to a United States-based company, but the venerable jet's certificate of airworthiness expired while waiting out the coronavirus flight restrictions, and so it sits peacefully on the tarmac at Tribhuvan International Airport unable to fly away.

In the third week of January, CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing confirmed its purchase of the aircraft by depositing $281,000 into Nepal Airlines' account.

But the two failed to sign a formal buyout deal as planned because of the Covid-19 pandemic that was just beginning to spread. Countries around the world then started slapping travel restrictions in the first week of February which were followed by total lockdowns.

"The certificate of airworthiness of the plane which has been parked at Tribhuvan International Airport has expired. We are asking the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to revalidate the airworthiness," said Ganesh Bahadur Chand, acting managing director for Nepal Airlines. "We will begin the process as soon as the American company communicates with us."

On December 30, Nepal Airlines awarded the jet bearing registration number 9N-ACB to CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing after it offered $5.71 million for the jet, nearly 35 percent higher than the asking price. The negotiation was concluded on December 20.

Nepal Airlines held talks with three international companies to sell the 757. It even halved the price of the aircraft, engines and spare parts to $4.25 million after trying unsuccessfully to offload them for years. The jet was valued at $5.4 million out of the total sale price of $7.8 million.

The national flag carrier was under pressure to sell the Boeing as its airworthiness was validated until February.

An official at the civil aviation regulator said that the American company could take the plane by revalidating the certificate of airworthiness. "For this, an inspector should come from the United States after issuing a new registration number for the plane, and complete the airworthiness process as prescribed by Nepal's civil aviation law," he said.

Chand said they were not aware when the American company would take delivery of the jet, but it was Nepal Airlines' responsibility to facilitate the process.

On June 26 last year, the national flag carrier put the 757 named Gandaki and its spare parts up for auction. Two bidders had shown interest in buying the plane. However, one bidder was disqualified as it did not provide its name on the bid document while the rate quoted by the second bidder was below the auction price.

Nepal Airlines then issued another notice on August 14, 2019. This time too, two bidders applied; but one wanted to buy only the spare parts while the other quoted a price that was way below the auction rate.

The national flag carrier then issued a notice giving potential buyers until November 27 to submit a proposal for negotiations.

The 9N-ACB joined the fleet of the then Royal Nepal Airlines in September 1988. This special Combi model is capable of seating passengers while also carrying two pallets of cargo. According to Nepal Airlines, Gandaki’s frame is the only pure 757 Combi built by Boeing. The 757 can hold 190 passengers.