Flydubai, the airline based in the United Arab Emirates, has revised its flight timetable on the Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai route after the winter flight schedule took effect in international aviation. The carrier has pushed back its arrival and departure times at Pokhara International Airport by 50 minutes.
According to the revised timetable, flights from Dubai will arrive in Pokhara between 7:05 PM and 7:10 PM, while flights from Pokhara to Dubai will depart between 8:05 PM and 8:10 PM. Before the change, the aircraft reached Pokhara International Airport at 6:15 PM and left for Dubai at 7:15 PM. The change was made to align with the seasonal adjustments in international aviation schedules.
Jagannath Niraula, chief of Pokhara International Airport, said all technical and management preparations needed for nighttime arrivals and departures had been completed. The airport authority has also asked passengers to arrive at the airport in line with the revised schedule to avoid inconvenience.
The schedule of Flydubai change coincides with the completion of the airline’s first month of regular international service between Pokhara and Dubai, which has produced encouraging passenger numbers and raised hopes for the development of international air connectivity in western Nepal.
More Than 6,300 Passengers in the First Month via Flydubai
According to the airport office, Flydubai’s regular international service between Pokhara and Dubai carried a total of 6,362 passengers on 30 flights during its first month of operation. The service began on September 23, 2026 (Ashoj 7, 2083 BS), a significant step for Pokhara International Airport, which had depended largely on domestic flights since its inauguration.
Of the total passengers recorded in the first month, 4,521 flew from Dubai to Pokhara, while 1,841 flew from Pokhara to Dubai. The notably higher number of inbound passengers has been attributed in part to greater travel demand during Nepal’s major festivals, Dashain and Tihar, when many Nepalis living abroad return home to celebrate with their families.
Niraula called the first month’s passenger figures encouraging and said continued cooperation between the government and the private sector would be essential to sustaining the service over the long term.
The initial performance of flydubai points to demand for international air connectivity through Pokhara, though keeping the route sustainable will require efforts to attract passengers in both directions. The higher number of arrivals compared with departures has also underscored the need to promote outbound travel from Pokhara and surrounding areas to improve the route’s overall performance.
Authorities Stress the Need to Increase Outbound Passengers
Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya has welcomed the initial performance of the Pokhara–Dubai service and stressed the importance of increasing the number of passengers travelling from Pokhara to international destinations.
He urged residents of Gandaki Province, along with tourism entrepreneurs and the business community, to make Pokhara International Airport their preferred departure point for trips abroad. Higher usage of the airport by local residents and businesses could help raise passenger numbers, reinforce the route’s commercial viability and encourage airlines to keep or expand their international services.
Acharya also drew attention to the international connections offered through Flydubai and its partner airline, Emirates. With a single ticket, passengers can reach more than 300 destinations worldwide via the two airlines’ network, giving travellers from Pokhara and nearby districts more convenient connections through Dubai.
This connectivity could benefit tourists, students, migrant workers and business travellers by lessening the need to travel to other airports before starting their international journeys. Flydubai has also begun ticket bookings on the Pokhara–Dubai route through October 2027, giving passengers the chance to plan their trips well ahead and signalling the airline’s intention to keep selling tickets for the route beyond its initial operating period.
International Flights Expected to Boost Tourism and Regional Economic Growth
Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated on January 1, 2023 (Poush 17, 2079 BS), yet for a long period its operations remained largely confined to domestic flights. The launch of Flydubai’s regular international service has revived hopes that the airport can play a bigger role in advancing tourism, trade and economic development in Gandaki Province.
Pokhara is among Nepal’s leading tourism destinations, renowned for its lakes, mountain views and adventure tourism, and for its closeness to the Annapurna region. Direct links with Dubai could make the city more reachable for international visitors, including travellers connecting from other countries via the United Arab Emirates, potentially supporting hotels, travel agencies, restaurants, transport operators and other tourism-related businesses.
The international service could also open up broader economic opportunities by improving access for business travellers, enabling international connections and encouraging investment in the region. Nevertheless, the route’s long-term sustainability will hinge on steady passenger demand, effective promotion, convenient onward connections and continued coordination among the airline, airport authorities, government agencies and the private sector.
Although the first month’s figures offer an encouraging early sign of demand, raising the number of passengers flying from Pokhara to Dubai will remain a key priority. Sustained growth in two-way passenger traffic could help reinforce the route’s commercial prospects and establish Pokhara International Airport as a more active gateway for international travel.
