Pokhara International Airport welcomed its first regular international commercial flight on Wednesday, with a Flydubai aircraft arriving from Dubai, raising hopes for sustained international connectivity from the tourism city.
The Boeing 737 MAX carrying 113 passengers landed at 6:19 pm and received a water-cannon salute, according to airport General Manager Jagannath Niraula. Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya, government officials and representatives of tourism organisations were present to welcome the passengers.
The aircraft was scheduled to depart for Dubai at 7:15 pm with 153 passengers, marking the beginning of Flydubai’s regular Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai service.
The daily service is expected to make international travel more convenient for passengers from Pokhara and surrounding areas, particularly those travelling to Europe, the United States and other destinations through Dubai. It could also reduce travel time and transportation costs by eliminating the need to travel via Kathmandu.
The new connection is expected to support Pokhara’s tourism industry by allowing international visitors to reach the tourism capital directly. It could also benefit Nepalis travelling to Gulf countries and other destinations for employment, education and tourism.
Pokhara International Airport began operations in January 2023 but has struggled to attract sustained international services. Although several airlines have previously operated international flights from the airport, those services did not continue regularly.
The government has introduced incentives to attract international airlines, including waivers on parking, landing and navigation fees until mid-September 2028. Ground-handling charges have also been discounted by 50 percent.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal granted Flydubai permission to operate the Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai route on June 8. Under the schedule, Flydubai will arrive in Pokhara daily at 6:15 pm and depart for Dubai at 7:15 pm.
The route connects Pokhara directly with Dubai, a major international aviation hub. Flydubai operates flights to more than 120 destinations worldwide.
The service is being operated under a strategic codeshare partnership between Flydubai and Emirates, allowing passengers travelling from Pokhara to destinations in Australia, Europe and the United States to book connecting journeys on a single ticket via Dubai.
