Narayan Singh Pun is not negotiating with Maoists anymore, he is negotiating with bankers to buy out the nearly-defunct Necon Air. Once Nepal's foremost domestic airline with ambitious plans to go international, Necon has fallen into hard times. A helicopter pilot himself, Pun owns Karnali Air, recently the medium of choice for the Maoist negotiation team. What Pun wants from Necon is its international license-it is the only private carrier allowed to operate regionally. "The government turned down my application for an international license, which is why I'm trying to get Necon," he admitted to us in a candid interview. The former minister and leader of the Samata Party is now planning on bringing in at least two medium haul Boeing 767s with an eye to the future: "Later, we will go for long-haul flights," he added optimistically. It looks like no one wants to do Necon's unprofitable domestic routes.