en.Wedoany.com Reported - Pokhara International Airport in Nepal has achieved a key breakthrough in international air connectivity. Flydubai, the UAE-based airline, announced that it will launch daily direct flights from Dubai to Pokhara starting September 23. This route marks the first regular daily scheduled flight operated by a major international carrier at Pokhara Airport, filling a critical gap in Nepal's western region for consistent international air access.
Pokhara International Airport officially commenced operations on January 1, 2023. As a key international tourism gateway developed by Nepal, its internationalization process had been relatively slow. Over three years since its opening, the airport's international operations have largely relied on seasonal charter flights. Previously, Himalaya Airlines launched a regular international route from Pokhara to Lhasa in March 2025, but due to insufficient passenger demand, the route ceased operations in March 2026 after only about a year. Flydubai's entry brings the first daily route operated by a foreign carrier with stable capacity and broad reach to Pokhara Airport.
Regarding the prospects of the new route, former Chairman of the Pokhara Tourism Council, Pom Narayan Shrestha, believes that Dubai, as a key Middle Eastern transportation hub and high-end consumer market, can precisely attract high-net-worth tourists to Pokhara, helping to diversify the local tourism structure, which is currently dominated by mass tourism. While market inquiries for the route are currently high, actual booking data has yet to meet industry expectations, and the sector maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook.
Navaraj Shahi, Nepal Country Manager for Flydubai, revealed that current bookings for the route show a clear divergence: strong inbound demand but slower outbound growth. Inbound flight bookings from Dubai to Pokhara are impressive, but outbound ticket purchases from Pokhara are growing at a more moderate pace. He noted that Nepali passengers typically book tickets closer to their travel dates, and outbound orders are already showing steady growth, expected to meet compliance passenger flow standards before the route's launch.
Ramesh Lamichhane, Nepal Country Manager for Emirates, which has a partnership with Flydubai, adopted a cautious stance. He believes the core challenge for the route's sustainability lies not in its launch but in whether Pokhara can maintain a stable passenger base. He called for coordinated efforts among airlines, tourism enterprises, and governments at all levels to cultivate the local and regional market to support the long-term operation of this daily international route.
Yashoda Rimal, Minister of Industry and Tourism for Gandaki Province, responded that the provincial government has prioritized the route's operation, introducing targeted incentive policies and improving supporting facilities. She acknowledged that launching the route is just the beginning; sustaining it and leveraging its benefits are essential to driving the province's cultural tourism and economic development. Industry analysts noted that the route will cover 11 districts in Gandaki Province and the entire western region of Nepal, marking a significant step in enhancing external connectivity for western Nepal.
Addressing concerns about the route's long-term viability, Flydubai's Nepal head Shahi emphasized that major international airlines conduct rigorous market research and data analysis before launching new routes and do not expand blindly. He stated that the airline will work closely with governments at all levels and tourism enterprises to deeply cultivate the market, ensuring the route's sustainable operation through collective efforts and opening a vital air corridor connecting western Nepal to the world.
