Tourism Info Nepal

Nepal Airlines to Launch Regular Flights to China from Pokhara and Bhairahawa

Nepal Airlines to Launch Regular Flights to China from Pokhara and Bhairahawa

Following Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent visit to China, Nepal Airlines, a state-owned carrier, and Himalayan Airlines, a private-sector airline, are preparing to commence regular flights connecting Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa to major Chinese cities.

Himalayan Airlines has submitted a proposal to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to begin regular flights from Pokhara to Lhasa, Tibet, starting January 2025. Based on the experience of these flights, the airline has expressed its interest in launching additional services from Bhairahawa to other Chinese cities in the near future.

Similarly, Nepal Airlines has proposed to initiate regular flights to China from Gautam Buddha International Airport by January 2025. However, the airline has requested the government to decide on the specific Chinese destination for these flights.

These initiatives align with commitments outlined in the joint statement issued during Prime Minister Oli’s visit to China, where both nations agreed to enhance connectivity between Nepal’s airports and Chinese cities.

Current Status of Proposals

According to Gyanendra Bhul, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, no Chinese airlines have yet applied to operate regular flights to Pokhara or Bhairahawa.

Presently, five Chinese airlines operate regular flights to Nepal, including Air China, China Southern, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong. These airlines primarily operate through Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

In the past, Tibet Airlines also offered flights to Nepal, but it has since ceased operations in the country.

The introduction of these new flight routes is expected to bolster Nepal’s aviation connectivity and support the growth of tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between Nepal and China.

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