Nepal Airlines (RA, Kathmandu) is attempting to auction an almost 35-year-old mixed configuration B757-200CB, along with its inventories, on an as is where is basis using standard international competitive bidding procedures.

On May 19, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) released the bidding tender documents for 9N-ACB (msn 23863). The auction includes the aircraft fitted with two Rolls-Royce RB211 engines, spare parts, and tools. The spare parts and tools are located at HAC hangar premises, while 9N-ACB is stored at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. The reserve price for the B757 is USD5,710,000.

Information in the tender documents reveals that the plane has been grounded since late 2018 when Nepal Airlines retired it from service. 9N-ACB has operated 30,535 cycles and 89,462 flying hours since its 1988 build date. Engine one (serial number 30658) has completed 21,101 cycles since its 1988 manufacture, and 1,915 cycles since its last shop visit, while engine two (serial number 30606) has completed 26,841 cycles since its 1987 manufacture, and 4,521 cycles since its last shop visit.

The right wing landing gear has completed 2,409 cycles since its last overhaul, with the next due in December 2025. The left wing landing gear has completed 568 cycles since its most recent overhaul, with the next due in November 2027, while the nose landing gear has done 3,024 cycles since its last overhaul, with the next due in March 2025. The aircraft needs a C-check, with its most recent expiring in February 2019. and a NAC spokesperson has confirmed to ch-aviation that 9N-ACB's airworthiness certification has expired.

The tender documents detail 515 spare parts and 109 tools that are included in the auction. The auction is open to any interested individuals or organisations, and must be accompanied by a 10% deposit of the total bid price. If the bid is successful, a letter of intent (LOI) will be issued. That LOI must be accepted within 15 days of issue, and a contract signed within 21 days of acceptance of the LOI. Failure to accept the LOI or contract will result in forfeiture of the 10% deposit.

Full payment must be made within 21 days of signing the contract, which will facilitate transfer of ownership. The terms of the tender document state the buyer must remove the items within 45 days of signing the contract. 9N-ACB has seating for 190 passengers, including 12 in a business class cabin, and 174 in the economy class cabin. It is the only B757-200CB ever operated by Nepal Airlines. However, the airline has previously operated two B757-200s. One of those was sold to the stillborn BB Airways (BBW, Kathmandu) and is now derelict at Kathmandu, while the other now flies for DHL Air (Austria) (Q7, Vienna).

NAC says the sealed tender documents must reach their Kathmandu offices by 1300L (0715Z) on Sunday, July 2, 2023.