Flydubai’s newly introduced Dubai Pokhara Dubai direct service has seen an encouraging passenger response on its first two days of operation, suggesting that there is increased demand for international air travel to Pokhara. The airline launched a regular flight to Pokhara International Airport on Wednesday using a Flydubai aircraft capable of carrying 165 passengers. On the second day, 122 passengers arrived in Pokhara from Dubai, while 143flew from Pokhara to Dubai, according to airport authorities. This has generated optimism among aviation and tourism stakeholders about the new international route’s potential to gradually boost passenger throughput between Nepal’s tourism hub and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Jagannath Niraula, General Manager of Pokhara International Airport, the second day of the operation was particularly heartening in regard to passenger throughput. The Flydubai aircraft landed in Pokhara at 6:19 PM and departed for Dubai again at 7:44 PM, carrying passengers on the return leg. On the first day of operation, the airline brought 113 passengers from Dubai to Pokhara and carried 152 passengers from Pokhara to Dubai. Airport officials have positively assessed the initial passenger figures, particularly as the service is launching prior to Nepal’s major festival season.
Dashain And Tihar Expected To Give Passenger Movement An Additional Boost in Flydubai Aircraft
Niraula said that the passenger response on the first two days offer an encouraging sign to the new route in that the demand is expected to rise as Dashain and Tihar draw near. The festive period is likely to see greater travel between the UAE and Nepal, especially among Nepali residents and visitors who will be making the journey during the holiday season. Airport authorities have also urged passengers flying in Pokhara using the international service to utilise the same airport for their return journeys in order to maintain a balance in terms of passenger movement between the two sectors. Sustaining demand would be crucial in boosting the continuity of the newly-established international connection.
The development is of significance to Pokhara International Airport, which began operations on January 1, 2023, with the broader aim of establishing direct air links between Pokhara and international destinations. Despite being an international airport, the facility has been largely utilising domestic operations for quite some time. The commencement of Flydubai’s regular service is therefore garnering great interest in Pokhara as it sees the route as an opportunity to enhance the city’s international aviation profile and improve accessibility for visitors who are arriving from the Gulf region.
Tickets Are Bookable Through March 2027 As Connectivity Expands
Flydubai has already opened ticket bookings through March 26, 2027, which offers the new service an operating horizon of six months. The availability of bookings is anticipated to provide greater assurance to travellers when booking journeys between Dubai and Pokhara while providing tourism businesses an opportunity to develop products that are centred on the new international link. The route is expected to be particularly valuable for visitors who wish to have direct access to Pokhara and other destinations across Gandaki Province, as the service does not require visitors to pass through Kathmandu. Its operation is also expected to offer travellers who are utilising the broader Dubai aviation network an additional international gateway option.
The new service is regarded as more than just an aviation milestone, as tourism stakeholders anticipate that enhanced international connectivity will boost visitor throughput and promote tourism promotion in Pokhara and Gandaki Province. The direct flight is anticipated to ease travel and support the region’s initiatives to attract international visitors. Since Dubai is a major international aviation hub, the connection opens up potential access for passengers from destinations that are served through the Flydubai network, though the source does not provide specific passenger market figures for such connecting traffic.
Tourism Stakeholders Prepare Measures To Sustain The Route
Hari Bhujel, President of the Pokhara Tourism Council, said that Flydubai’s service has enhanced international air connectivity for Pokhara and Gandaki Province and has made movement of passengers more convenient. He said that tourism stakeholders are working hard to support the service’s long-term continuity, which includes providing discounts on a range of tourism packages in Pokhara. These are designed to motivate visitors to visit the region and boost demand that can be sustained for the continuity of international flights.
The Nepal Tourism Board is also launching promotional initiatives aimed at supporting the regular and sustainable operation of the Pokhara flight. Board member Santosh Pokharel said that the board is preparing to promote international promotion through a range of programs to reinforce the route. The combined effort of the airport, the tourism sector and tourism authorities is anticipated to be instrumental in raising awareness about Pokhara as an international destination and sustaining the newly-launched Dubai connection in the long term.
