Kathmandu, Sept. 20 -- The 2026 Asian Games in Japan are underway, offering a major revenue opportunity for Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier.

The September-October period is also traditionally a peak revenue season, coinciding with Nepal's festive period and the tourism season, when airlines operate with high passenger demand and flights are often nearly fully booked with full fare.

But Nepal Airlines, which has its debt up to its neck, is struggling to capitalise on the opportunity.

Both of its wide-body aircraft are currently grounded, forcing the cash-strapped national carrier to cancel and reroute flights at a time when demand is at its highest. The airline faced a similar problem last year when both aircraft were grounded...