Tourism Info Nepal

Pokhara International Airport Faces Low International Flight Traffic Despite High Investment

Pokhara International Airport Faces Low International Flight Traffic Despite High Investment

Pokhara International Airport, a major infrastructure project financed with billions in loans, is struggling to attract international flights. The airport, which opened on January 1, 2023, was built with 22 billion Nepalese Rupees in subsidized loans from the Chinese government and was designed to handle up to six international flights per day.

According to the annual status report released by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers for Fiscal Year 2023/24, the airport has only seen a modest number of international flights. Between December 16, 2022, and July 15, 2023, the airport hosted just two international flights. For Fiscal Year 2023/24, the initial target was to handle 50 international flights, but only five flights have been completed so far.

The low number of international flights has raised concerns about the airport’s operational efficiency and its ability to meet its projected goals. Despite the significant financial investment and high expectations, the airport’s performance has fallen short of initial targets, prompting a review of its operational and marketing strategies.

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