Kathmandu: Nearly two years after its inauguration, the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) is preparing to host its first regular international flight. Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture, has announced plans to operate flights between Pokhara and Lhasa, China, with the first flight expected to take off in the first week of January 2025.
Although the flight schedule is still tentative, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) confirmed that Himalaya Airlines has submitted its schedule for the Pokhara-Lhasa route. According to CAAN, the operation of regular flights on this route could significantly boost the inflow of Chinese tourists to Pokhara.
Himalaya Airlines will begin operating the route with a 144-seat Airbus A-319. The flights are expected to begin as soon as the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) grants permission. CAAN confirmed that there are no pending issues from Nepal’s side regarding the operation of the flights.
The airline’s schedule includes a Kathmandu-Lhasa-Pokhara flight every Monday, with the aircraft spending the night in Pokhara before returning on the Pokhara-Lhasa-Kathmandu route every Tuesday. Previously, Himalaya Airlines was granted permission to operate Kathmandu-Lhasa flights three times a week, but irregular operations due to low passenger numbers led to a reduction in frequency. With the new schedule, flights will now resume consistently. Additionally, Himalaya has also received approval for Kathmandu-Lhasa-Kathmandu flights on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The decision to promote international flights from Pokhara and Bhairahawa followed reduced operational hours at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for maintenance purposes. In light of this, CAAN had requested Himalaya and Nepal Airlines to shift some of their operations to these airports. This move coincides with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China on December 2, which is expected to provide momentum for the establishment of direct air connectivity between Pokhara and China.
As per the bilateral air services agreement, this will be a scheduled flight, and the final approval of flight dates rests with the CAAC. The connection between Kathmandu, Lhasa, and Pokhara has great potential to attract Chinese tourists, and while only one weekly flight is planned for now, the frequency can be increased based on demand. With proper marketing, these flights could become regular, benefiting the Pokhara region.
The start of regular international flights at PRIA marks a significant milestone for the airport, which has primarily handled domestic flights since its opening on January 1, 2023. Although only nine international flights have been conducted so far, the first international flight was a demonstration by Himalaya Airlines on the opening day. Other notable international flights included those by Sichuan Airlines in January 2023 and Druk Air from Bhutan in September 2023, along with occasional cargo flights.
With the launch of regular international flights, PRIA is expected to play a vital role in boosting tourism and international connectivity for the Pokhara region.