Flights from Pokhara to Australia in the Offing

Sichuan Airlines of China has formally requested the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for permission to launch regular flights from Pokhara to Australia, via Chengdu.

According to the state-run national news agency, the flight operations are tentatively slated to begin from September.

“Preparations are being made to grant approval after completing the necessary procedures,” RSS quoted CAAN spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul as saying. “The airline plans to commence service in September, and the flight schedule is expected to be submitted soon.”

The airline, a major airline company of China headquartered in Chengdu, previously operated chartered flights to Pokhara and now aims to establish scheduled connectivity to Australia, marking a significant potential expansion for the region’s international aviation links.

Pokhara International Airport, inaugurated with much fanfare on January 1, 2023, was built at a cost of Rs 22 billion with expectations of turning Pokhara into a hub for international tourism. However, more than two years after its launch, the airport has struggled to attract scheduled international flights amid allegations of corruption in construction process.

Industry observers attribute this underperformance to poor planning, inadequate marketing, and limited diplomatic efforts. The airport also faces technical and operational shortcomings, such as insufficient infrastructure to support high-volume international traffic, which has deterred many carriers from including Pokhara in their networks.

To address these challenges, the government has announced a package of incentives, waiving passenger service fees, tourism fees, and other operational charges for airlines flying internationally from Pokhara. These waivers will remain in effect until mid-September 2026, according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.