Bhutan’s Druk Air is gearing up to introduce direct flights between the Paro International Airport in Bhutan and the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) in Nepal.
Druk Air has secured the necessary permissions to initiate flights from Paro to Pokhara, with the maiden chartered flight scheduled for September 9. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul conveyed this update, highlighting that the flight will be a chartered service.
The flight will take off from Pokhara and employ narrow-body aircraft for its operations. While the new airport in Pokhara is gradually facilitating flight operations, it is anticipated that the arrival of Druk Air will pave the way for further aviation activities in the region.
Bhul emphasized that Druk Air’s chartered flight is likely to pave the path for regular flights between Bhutan and Pokhara. The aviation authority anticipates that this step will lead to consistent air travel services connecting the two destinations.
Having been inaugurated on January 1, 2023, this airport in Pokhara has, thus far, hosted only one chartered international commercial flight. Other flight operations conducted from this airport are confined to domestic services. Nepal Airlines has commenced flights to three destinations from the recently established Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.