POKHARA: Pokhara International Airport is set to launch its first flight connection to Australia, with China’s Sichuan Airlines preparing to operate the route via Chengdu.
The airline has submitted a request to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) seeking approval for the flights.
According to Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer at CAAN, Sichuan Airlines has initiated informal discussions to obtain flight permission. Preparations are underway to grant approval once the necessary procedures are completed.
The airline aims to begin flights from September. “Sichuan Airlines plans to operate flights from Pokhara to Australia via Chengdu. Informal talks have taken place, and bilateral discussions are ongoing to finalize the process. The airline will soon submit its flight schedule,” Bhul said.
This new route is expected to provide greater convenience for Nepali travelers flying to and from Australia.
Sichuan Airlines had previously conducted charter flights to Pokhara International Airport. Its Airbus A319 first landed there on June 21, 2023, during the Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival 2023 held at Fewa Lake. The chartered flights brought Chinese delegates, athletes, and tourists.
Pokhara Airport’s General Manager, Jagannath Niraula, stated that Himalaya Airlines is currently the only carrier operating regular flights from the airport. Himalaya flies once a week on the Kathmandu–Lhasa–Pokhara–Lhasa–Kathmandu route.
The airline launched its first commercial flight from Pokhara two years after the airport became operational.
Meanwhile, Bhutan’s private carrier, Bhutan Airlines (TASHI), is also preparing to operate chartered flights to and from Pokhara. According to Bhul, the airline has requested permission for two or three charter flights between Pokhara and Paro International Airport on September 28 and October 4.
Bhutan Airlines has expressed interest in launching regular services. “If chartered flights prove feasible, the authority has already agreed to allow ‘fifth freedom flights’ via Pokhara—similar to those permitted in Kathmandu and Bhairahawa,” said Bhul.
Initially, Bhutan Airlines plans to operate the Kathmandu–Paro–Kathmandu route. If successful, it hopes to expand to routes such as Paro–Pokhara–Delhi and Delhi–Pokhara–Paro.
With Himalaya Airlines already operating and both Sichuan and Bhutan Airlines preparing to join, authorities believe this increased activity will help bring Pokhara International Airport into full operation, offering more convenient travel options for international passengers.
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