Pokhara International Airport is set to take a long-awaited step toward becoming a functioning international hub as budget carrier Flydubai prepares to begin direct daily flights between Pokhara and Dubai, following regulatory clearance from Nepal’s aviation authority.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has granted Flydubai permission to operate daily Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai flights starting September 23, confirmed Jagannath Niraula, General Manager of Pokhara International Airport. The airline’s flight schedule was approved on Monday.
Flight Details
The service will be operated using a 167-seat Boeing 737 aircraft. Flights are scheduled to land in Pokhara at 6:15 PM and depart for Dubai at 7:15 PM, with a journey time of approximately five hours. In the first phase, CAAN has issued Flydubai a flight permit for one month, with the expectation of extension based on operations.
Inspection and Clearance
The approval followed a high-level site visit by a Flydubai delegation. Adrian Lucas, Vice President of Risk Management at Flydubai, led a technical team that conducted a thorough on-site inspection of the airport’s runway, security systems, and technical infrastructure. After a six-hour discussion with airport management and technical staff, Lucas declared that Pokhara International Airport is fully ready for regular international flight operations and pledged to commence services at the earliest.
A Milestone for Nepal’s Third International Gateway
Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated on January 1, 2023, built with nearly Rs 22 billion in loans, but has been limited to domestic flights since its opening. Its journey toward international connectivity has been slow. In March 2025, Himalaya Airlines launched the first regular commercial Pokhara–Lhasa service, but the route did not last long and was discontinued on March 23. Apart from that and occasional charter flights to neighboring countries, no regular international services had operated from the airport.
The approval comes shortly after the government announced in its policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27 that it would initiate diplomatic efforts to attract international airlines to Pokhara International Airport – making the Flydubai clearance an early result of that push.
Economic and Tourism Impact
Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya welcomed the development as a landmark moment. “This is not just about adding an airline service; it’s a historic opportunity to enhance Pokhara’s international identity, promote tourism, expand economic activities, and decentralize air traffic concentrated in Kathmandu,” he said.
Direct connectivity with Dubai would link Pokhara to more than 300 cities across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and other regions through Dubai’s extensive aviation network. Tourism stakeholders note that nearly Rs 100 billion in tourism-related investments – in hotels, resorts, and adventure tourism facilities around Phewa Lake – stand to benefit from improved international access.
Business groups have been urging the government to simplify regulations for international flights from Pokhara and to allow airlines to operate services to major cities in India and China. For now, the Flydubai route is seen as a foundation on which further international connectivity can be built.
The new Flydubai route establishes a consistent daily connection with a major global travel hub, and is expected to significantly expand international travel opportunities, stimulate tourism growth, and reduce strain on Kathmandu’s aviation hub.
Flydubai is a UAE government-owned budget carrier based in Dubai, operating an extensive network across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
