POKHARA: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has inaugurated the Pokhara International Airport on the occasion of New Year, 2023. With this the Pokhara International Airport (PIA) has been operational from today.

Buddha Airways flight, the first formal flight after inauguration of the international airport, was welcomed by a water fountain.

Prime Minister Dahal and others who arrived from the plane got the red carpet welcome accompanied by garlands and panchkanya.

According to PIA Sources, the airport will conduct only domestic flights on Sunday as the international flights have to go through some formalities yet.

The airport was built with the help of concessional loans and grants summing Rs 22 billion from China’s Exim Bank.

Flights will not stop at the old airport in Pokhara. Although big aircrafts land at Pokhara International Airport, small aircrafts are to land at the old airport.

Mustang in Jomsom and Humde in Manang will operate from the old airport and helicopters will also continue their service from the old airport.