Private sector airline Buddha Airlines has started direct flights from Pokhara-Dhangadhi-Pokhara on Wednesday.
At Dhangadhi Airport, officials of the Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATA) Far West welcomed the first 18 passengers of Buddha Air who flew from Pokhara to Dhangadhi and bade farewell to the passengers from Dhangadhi to Pokhara.
According to Budharam Majhi, chief of Buddha Air Station in Dhangadhi, the residents of the far west have been relieved of the obligation to travel to Pokhara via Kathmandu as soon as the direct air service on this route was started.
“We have started air service to Pokhara-Dhangadhi-Pokhara with three flights a week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” said Majhi.
Tourism entrepreneur Mayaprakash Bhatta said that domestic and foreign tourists are expected to increase in the far west as soon as air service to this route is started.
Secretary-General of NATA Far West Padma Bikram Singh said that Buddha Air has agreed to operate direct flights on this route targeting Indians as well as domestic tourists who want to visit Muktinath and Pokhara.
“Until now, we could only make a package for tourists from Kathmandu. With the launch of direct air service, we will now be able to make a package for tourists in Pokhara as well,” he said.
Nata Far West had been urging the airline to operate direct flights on this route for several years. Private airlines including Buddha Air are providing daily air service from Dhangadhi Airport to Kathmandu-Dhangadhi-Kathmandu.
