Tourism Info Nepal

Pokhara Airport Faces Financial Strain, Calls for Private Sector Support to Launch International Flights

Pokhara Airport Faces Financial Strain, Calls for Private Sector Support to Launch International Flights

Officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) have highlighted the immense financial burden they face in repaying the debt incurred while constructing the Pokhara International Airport. According to CAAN’s Corporate Director, Hansraj Pandey, all available funds have been used to settle the airport’s debt, leaving no room for further investments.

Pandey explained, “The authority has no investment left. When asked where the money went, it went into paying off the airport’s debt. This has left the authority financially strained.” Despite this, he emphasized that international flights are essential for the airport and that both the private sector and the Gandaki provincial government must step in to support this initiative. He suggested that private companies could operate chartered international flights, which would be a step toward alleviating the current financial strain.

This discussion took place during a seminar organized by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Gandaki, where CAAN officials pointed out that the private sector should take a leading role in facilitating international flights from the airport. NATTA Gandaki’s President, Kishor Dahal, also stressed the necessity of regular international flights to ensure the airport’s success.

CAAN’s Director-General, Pradeep Adhikari, revealed that the airport had been built with a loan of USD 24.4 million from China’s Exim Bank. The airport has been required to pay annual installments of approximately NPR 2 billion. The airport was officially handed over to Nepal’s government on Chaitra 12, 2078, during a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Business owners in Pokhara have expressed frustration over the airport’s underutilization, with many investing heavily in infrastructure based on the expectation that regular international flights would soon be operational. Krishna Acharya, President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki, shared the disappointment, stating, “We increased our investments thinking the airport would be operational. Now, we are facing difficulties.”

Pandey acknowledged the shared struggles of both business owners and CAAN, urging for collective action to resolve the situation. He remarked, “Our pains are mutual. Since we share responsibility, we must move forward together.”

CAAN’s Deputy Director-General, Devchandra Lal Karn, criticized the failure to introduce chartered flights, stating that without such initiatives, the airport would continue to face challenges. “If you don’t bring in chartered flights, this will remain the same for another ten years,” he warned. He also suggested that local businesses, similar to those in Kathmandu, should take the lead in bringing tourists to Pokhara.

Karn also announced that Himalaya Airlines would begin flights from Pokhara to Kathmandu in March, providing a glimpse of hope for the future. He underscored the importance of market demand, citing the example of the Bhairahawa airport, where flights operate only when there is sufficient demand. “Flights can’t run by force; they must be driven by market demand,” he explained.

Director-General Adhikari echoed the need for collaboration between the Gandaki government and business representatives to launch international flights, urging the private sector to take the initiative. He emphasized that the airport’s debt, which has been accumulated since 2012, must now be repaid, and business owners should also invest in making the airport successful. “We have spent the money, now we must make it work,” he urged.

Adhikari also mentioned that he had personally requested Himalaya Airlines and Nepal Airlines to start international flights from Pokhara. Himalaya Airlines is set to operate flights to Lhasa starting in March.

Basudev Tripathi, a former member of the Nepal Tourism Board and a business leader, stressed the significant investments made by the private sector in Pokhara’s tourism infrastructure. He called on the government to prioritize launching international flights from the airport, noting that without operational flights, much of the investment in the region would lose its value. “The airport in Pokhara must operate, and the government must give it special attention,” he concluded.

The launch of international flights from Pokhara International Airport is seen as crucial for both the local economy and the tourism sector, but it will require collaboration from all stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and international airlines.

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