Kathmandu, April 13 -- For nearly five years now, a cluster of Chinese-built aircraft has sat idle at Kathmandu's airport, their presence turning from promise to burden. What was once projected as a step toward strengthening Nepal Airlines' domestic fleet has instead become a lingering financial and operational dilemma-one that the national flag carrier has been unable to resolve despite repeated efforts.

The aircraft, unused and silent, have effectively become an albatross. Nepal Airlines cannot sell them. It has failed to lease them. It has not been able to return them to service. Nor can it send them back to China. In the meantime, they generate no revenue, only losses-quietly draining the already fragile finances of the state-owned a...