International Flights from Pokhara to Bhutan Set to Begin

Kathmandu: Direct international flights between Pokhara and Paro, Bhutan, are set to begin later this month. Bhutan Airlines will operate four charter flights on the Paro–Pokhara–Paro route in coordination with Universal Tours and Travel (UTT).

According to UTT operator Parashar Prasai, the flights are scheduled for September 28, October 2, 6, and 10. Each aircraft will have a seating capacity of 126 passengers. UTT has also launched a four-night, five-day travel package for the route.

Prasai expressed optimism that regular international flights from Pokhara would be possible with continued efforts, urging the government to encourage airlines to operate from the newly built airport.

Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya welcomed the announcement, noting that the flights would help promote tourism in both Nepal and Bhutan. “This will significantly contribute to connecting Pokhara to the international market. We must all work together to ensure its continuation,” he said.

Outgoing Chairman of the Pokhara Tourism Council, Pom Narayan Shrestha, said the charter flights have created excitement among tourism stakeholders. He urged all three levels of government to take initiatives for regular flights, pointing out that cheaper fares and better connectivity would allow visitors to experience Pokhara’s natural beauty more fully.

To encourage international flights from Pokhara and Bhairahawa, the government has waived fees on parking, landing, and navigation. Airlines also receive a 75 percent discount on ground handling services provided by Nepal Airlines Corporation and full discounts on the Rs 3,000 passenger service fee. These concessions have been in place since August 12, 2024, under the government’s “Action Plan for the Overall Reform of the Civil Aviation Sector.”

Currently, Bhutan Airlines operates four flights a week from Paro to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. In June 2025, Sichuan Airlines operated a charter flight from Chengdu to Pokhara, and the carrier has applied for permission to extend services to Australia via Chengdu. Himalaya Airlines is also operating weekly commercial flights connecting Kathmandu, Lhasa, and Pokhara.

Pokhara International Airport, inaugurated on January 1, 2023, was built at a cost of Rs 22 billion. Spread over 3,900 ropanis, the airport has a 2,500-meter-long runway and can handle up to 800,000 passengers annually. Tourism stakeholders believe that with more airlines operating international routes, the airport will gradually become a fully operational international hub.

Source: RSS

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