Flydubai’s inaugural service connecting Dubai International (DXB) with Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport (PKR) recorded load factors above 70 per cent during its first four operating days, according to airport officials quoted by OnlineKhabar. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 route, launched on 23 September, is the first scheduled international flight to the newly built Himalayan gateway. On Saturday the flight arrived in Pokhara with 156 passengers and departed with 83, despite Friday’s rotation having been cancelled because of poor weather. Tourism operators in Pokhara say advance bookings are “encouraging” and have already prompted hotels and restaurants to roll out promotional rates for UAE-based visitors. The service opens a one-stop option for European and Gulf expatriates who currently fly into Kathmandu and then endure a six-hour road transfer to reach Nepal’s adventure-tourism capital. For UAE corporates, it provides a faster route to hydro-power and construction projects in Gandaki Province, potentially trimming two days off typical rotation schedules. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority has waived landing and parking fees at Pokhara until 2028 and cut ground-handling charges by 50 per cent to attract more foreign airlines. Industry analysts say Flydubai’s performance will be closely watched by Emirates—which could codeshare in future—and by Air Arabia, which is evaluating Sharjah-Pokhara rights. Mobility managers with project teams in Nepal should brief travellers on Pokhara’s mountainous terrain and winter weather patterns, as the airport’s instrument-landing system is still undergoing calibration and diversions to Kathmandu remain possible.
Source: OnlineKhabar (Nepal)
