China’s Sichuan Airlines conducted chartered flights on the Pokhara-Chengdu route on Tuesday, March 18, marking a potential breakthrough for Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport (PIA).  

Although not the airline’s first chartered flight at PIA, it is expected to operate such flights on a weekly basis moving forward. “The airline has expressed willingness to operate at least one chartered flight per week in the initial phase, provided there is sufficient passenger demand,” said Hansa Raj Pandey, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).  

The commencement of these flights offers a much-needed boost to Nepal’s third international airport, which was built with a Chinese loan but has struggled to attract scheduled international services since its inauguration in January 2023.  

CAAN, Nepal’s aviation regulator, announced via social media platform X that Sichuan Airlines' A319 aircraft successfully completed its chartered flight while operating at full capacity.  

“Sichuan Airlines’ A319 aircraft successfully completed its first commercial chartered flight on the Pokhara-Chengdu route, operating at full capacity with a crew, 126 passengers, full aviation fuel, and baggage,” CAAN posted, highlighting that the aircraft required only half of the available runway.  

The statement appears to address concerns over PIA’s runway capacity, particularly regarding reported payload limitations for narrow-body jets. The 2,500-meter-long, 45-meter-wide runway has faced scrutiny over its ability to handle fully loaded aircraft.

The successful flight demonstrated PIA’s capability to accommodate larger aircraft, Pandey noted.  

Earlier in the day, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song shared videos on X, documenting the aircraft’s landing and takeoff.  

“The first regular commercial chartered flight from Chengdu, China, just landed at Pokhara International Airport with a full load of 128 passengers. Shortly, it will carry over 120 passengers back to China!” he tweeted .  

According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), this direct air service is expected to enhance tourism and cultural ties between Nepal and China. The improved connectivity is projected to boost foreign tourist arrivals, supporting both China’s Visit Nepal 2025 initiative and Nepal’s Pokhara Tourism Year campaign.  

Notably, Himalaya Airlines has announced the launch of a weekly flight connecting Pokhara and Lhasa, starting March 31. Initially, the airline will operate a weekly flight on the Kathmandu-Lhasa-Pokhara-Lhasa-Kathmandu route.