Nepal's third international airport gets its first scheduled overseas flight
Dhaka: Flydubai has begun regular scheduled international flights to Pokhara International Airport in Nepal, marking a new chapter in the city's global air connectivity.
The airline's first scheduled commercial flight, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with a 166-passenger capacity, landed in Pokhara at 6:18 pm on September 23 after a roughly four-and-a-half-hour journey from Dubai.
The aircraft arrived carrying 113 passengers and received a traditional water-cannon welcome. It later departed for Dubai with 153 passengers onboard.
Arriving passengers were greeted with khadas, garlands, and gifts, organized under the leadership of the Pokhara Tourism Council, while those departing for Dubai were given a farewell send-off, according to local media reports.
With the launch, Flydubai will operate a daily scheduled service between Pokhara and Dubai.
Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya called the launch a long-awaited milestone, saying the daily service would significantly boost the city's tourism sector and international connectivity.
Local businesses have rolled out incentives to mark the occasion. The Hotel Association Pokhara is offering a free night's stay with breakfast for inaugural passengers, along with discounts of up to 30% for others showing boarding passes.
Restaurant and trekking associations in the region have also announced discounts ranging between 15% and 25% for Flydubai passengers.
The Pokhara route is operated under a codeshare partnership with Emirates from Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3, giving Pokhara passengers access to over 250 cities worldwide through a single ticket with through-checked baggage.
Flydubai, which flies to more than 120 destinations, has operated in Nepal since 2009 and says it has carried around four million passengers to and from the country to date.
While Pokhara International Airport has previously handled chartered flights from China, India, and Bhutan, Flydubai is the first carrier to launch a daily scheduled international commercial service from the airport.
