Tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara have expressed growing confidence that Flydubai’s newly launched Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai service will become a regular and sustainable international connection, after the airline extended its ticket booking period through October 30, 2027.
Booking Extended Through October 2027
Flydubai began operating the Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai route from Ashwin 7 (September 23), initially opening bookings for six months. The airline’s decision to extend bookings until October 30, 2027, has further strengthened confidence among tourism businesses that the service will continue on a regular basis.
Pom Narayan Shrestha, operator of Fly Namaste Travels and former president of the Pokhara Tourism Council, said the initial response to the service had been encouraging, prompting Flydubai to extend its booking period. He said the extended booking period has increased confidence that the service will operate regularly, describing the development as positive for tourism entrepreneurs and the wider Pokhara business community.
Passenger Traffic Expected to Rise After Festivals
Tourism businesses say passenger movement has been encouraging since the launch of the route. However, the number of passengers travelling from Pokhara to Dubai has remained relatively lower than those arriving from Dubai due to the ongoing festive season.
Shrestha expects outbound passenger numbers from Pokhara to increase after the festival period. He also emphasized the need for cooperation among tourism businesses, government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the long-term success of the international service.
More Than 4,500 Passengers Use Route
According to Binod Singh Rawat, information officer at the Civil Aviation Office at Pokhara International Airport, one Flydubai flight was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions since the service began, while flights have otherwise been operating regularly.
Under the current schedule, Flydubai’s aircraft lands at Pokhara International Airport at 6:15 p.m. and departs for Dubai at 7:15 p.m. every day. By Monday, a total of 3,113 passengers had travelled from Dubai to Pokhara, while 1,423 passengers had departed from Pokhara to Dubai, bringing total passenger movement on the route to 4,536.
Hotels and Restaurants Introduce Special Offers
The encouraging booking trend has also raised hopes among tour and travel operators that the route will become a sustainable international connection. Tourism businesses in Pokhara have been preparing special packages and promotional offers to attract passengers travelling through the new route. Hotels and restaurants have also introduced various discounts and incentive packages targeting visitors arriving through Flydubai. Flydubai is currently operating the route using a 165-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
First Regular International Airline From Pokhara
Flydubai is the first airline to operate regular international flights from Pokhara International Airport. Previously, several airlines had operated chartered international flights from the airport, but no airline had maintained a regular international service. The launch of Flydubai’s service has connected Pokhara to a wider international network through Dubai, which serves as a major transit hub. Tourism entrepreneurs expect the expanded air connectivity to contribute to Pokhara’s tourism industry, business activity, employment and the broader local economy over the long term.
International Flights Begin Nearly Four Years After Airport Opening
Pokhara International Airport came into operation in January 2023, but regular international flights had not been established until the launch of Flydubai’s service. The government had recently announced diplomatic initiatives under its current fiscal year policy and programme to attract international airlines to Pokhara International Airport. Shortly afterward, Flydubai commenced the Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai service. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) granted Flydubai permission to operate the route on Jestha 25.
Government Offers Incentives to Attract Airlines
The government has introduced various incentives to attract international airlines to Pokhara International Airport. Airport parking, landing and navigation charges have been fully waived until the end of Bhadra 2085, while a 50% discount on ground-handling charges has also been introduced for international flights. The incentives, combined with the growing passenger response and extended booking period, are expected to support efforts to establish Pokhara as a sustainable international aviation gateway and strengthen its connectivity with global tourism markets.
