Nepal International Airports: Regular International Flights Begin in Pokhara Amidst Lack of Development at Bhairahawa
Photo Credit, Pradeep Bashyal/BBC
From September 23rd onwards, Fly Dubai will commence daily international flights from Pokhara International Airport, significantly enhancing this tourist city’s direct global connectivity.
“Fly Dubai will use Dubai as a transit hub to operate flights to over 300 destinations worldwide, including Europe, the US, and Canada, which is highly significant,” stated Jagannath Niraula, Director General of Pokhara International Airport.
Previously, Himalaya Airlines had operated a weekly Pokhara-Lhasa flight, but it did not continue for long. Other international flights from Pokhara were limited mostly to occasional chartered services.
Sichuan Airlines also ran several charter flights from Chengdu, China, while there were similar flights from Bhutan.
Although considered the ‘Tourism Capital’ of Nepal, the Pokhara International Airport, inaugurated in mid-January 2023, had long lacked international flights, leaving stakeholders and local businesses disappointed.
Similarly, at Bhairahawa’s Gautam Buddha International Airport, some airlines had previously operated regular flights, but currently, no such flights are active.
Airline officials noted that ‘lack of passengers’ has been the main challenge for flight operations at both airports.
What Difference Does Pokhara Make?
Pokhara International Airport was constructed with a loan of USD 215.965 million from China’s Exim Bank.
However, aviation officials have said the lack of regular international flights hindered revenue generation needed to service the loan repayments, including interest and commitment fees.
Director General Niraula explained that regular flights will save tourists from a broad area coming to Pokhara and its surroundings considerable travel time and expenses.
“When Himalaya Airlines operated weekly flights on the Lhasa route, passenger numbers were quite low—at best reaching about half the aircraft’s capacity,” he added.
“At maximum, they carried only 65 passengers out of 130 seats for about a year. Flights stopped after fuel prices increased.”
The government has been offering special incentives to attract international airlines to Pokhara and Bhairahawa airports.
Photo Credit, Reuters
They have announced full exemptions on international parking, landing, and navigation fees, as well as offering reduced fuel prices.
“Fly Dubai’s potential is higher than flights that operated from that Chinese city,” Niraula added.
Meanwhile, no Indian airline has yet flown to Pokhara International Airport, but a recent medical evacuation flight to India was carried out.
Nepal’s private airline Buddha Air aims to operate scheduled flights from Pokhara to various cities in India but has not yet reached the implementation stage.
Due to a notable number of Indian tourists especially in Pokhara and Muktinath, there is strong potential for flights to India. Niraula said, “If direct connections between Pokhara and Indian cities are established, the airport’s capacity can fill up soon.”
International Flights at Bhairahawa Remain Suspended
Fly Dubai previously operated flights from Bhairahawa, but these are currently inactive.
From Bhairahawa airport, Fly Dubai of UAE, Jazeera Airways of Kuwait, Thai AirAsia of Thailand, and Qatar Airways used to operate flights.
Thai AirAsia operated the longest continuous seasonal flights in Bhairahawa during winter, according to Gautam Buddha International Airport General Manager Shyam Kishor Sah.
“We expect those flights to resume this coming winter, but currently, many flights have been rerouted from Kathmandu due to the international fuel crisis,” he said.
“At present, no other airlines have contacted us.”
Even when flights operated from Bhairahawa, Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways did not choose the airport voluntarily.
Many flights were temporarily diverted to Bhairahawa during maintenance of Tribhuvan International Airport, but due to the limited operational period and the need for connections, these flights could not be sustained.
Photo Credit, Bhairahawa Immigration Office
Qatar Airways did not maintain flights at Bhairahawa for even a month.
“Thai AirAsia’s business was also relatively poor; its route from Bangkok served pilgrims visiting the Buddhist circuit and Lumbini. It also carried some passengers returning from Korea, but few passengers traveled directly to Nepal,” said Director General Sah.
“Weekly flights from Bhairahawa operated 2-4 days with over 100 passengers, but typically, the 180-seat aircraft flew with fewer than 50 passengers,” he added.
Officials suggest Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines focused on Kathmandu due to sufficient passenger numbers, possibly neglecting Bhairahawa.
“Other international flights are generally directed by large travel agencies operating from Kathmandu and have not considered creating new markets outside the capital. Otherwise, Bhairahawa offers better facilities than Kathmandu,” said Director General Sah.
“Travel time is saved here by about 15-20 minutes compared to Kathmandu, which is significant. Government incentives also save at least NPR 1 million when narrow-bodied aircraft land.”
General Manager Shyam Kishor Sah said that regular charter flights from various Indian cities to Bhairahawa are ongoing, and once formalities are complete, there should be no technical barriers.
He added, “Realistically, sustainable flight operations for both Bhairahawa and Pokhara depend on flights originating from India.”