UAE government-owned airline Flydubai will begin operating direct flights between Dubai and Pokhara from September 23, marking a significant development in efforts to expand international connectivity at Pokhara International Airport.
According to the airline’s flight schedule, the aircraft will arrive at Pokhara International Airport (PIA) at 6:15 PM on the scheduled date. After passengers disembark, the aircraft will board new passengers and depart for Dubai at 7:15 PM.
Binod Singh Rawat, information officer at Tribhuvan International Airport, said Flydubai will operate either Airbus A319 or A320 aircraft on the Pokhara–Dubai route. The A319 can accommodate around 140 to 150 passengers, while the A320 has a capacity of approximately 160 to 180 passengers.
Rawat said Flydubai may alternate between the two aircraft models depending on passenger demand. He also said the inaugural flight is expected to bring a significant number of passengers to Pokhara, while the return flight will carry both passengers and cargo.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal granted Flydubai permission in late May to operate flights on the Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai route. The airline has said fares from Pokhara will be up to Rs 5,000 cheaper than comparable fares from Kathmandu.
Flydubai operates direct flights to more than 120 destinations worldwide. Its Pokhara service is expected to improve international access for passengers and benefit tourism-related businesses and other partner organizations.
The route will operate under a strategic codeshare partnership between Flydubai and Emirates. Through the partnership, passengers traveling from Pokhara to destinations in Australia, Europe and North America will be able to book a single ticket and continue their journey to their final destinations.
The government had announced in its policies and programmes for fiscal year 2026/27 that diplomatic efforts would be made to attract international airlines to Pokhara International Airport. Flydubai subsequently received approval to launch the service.
In May, the airline conducted a detailed feasibility study on operating direct flights to Pokhara, one of Nepal’s major tourism destinations.
Pokhara International Airport was constructed with a loan of around Rs 22 billion and came into operation on January 1, 2023. However, since its inauguration, regular international flight services at the airport have remained limited, with operations largely focused on domestic flights. The launch of Flydubai’s direct Dubai service is therefore expected to provide a major boost to the airport’s international connectivity and Pokhara’s tourism sector.
