Flydubai to Expand Nepal Network: Pokhara International Airport in Its Sights — Big News for US, Chinese, Indian, UK & Australian Travelers Alongside Kathmandu and Bhairahawa Routes

Image generated with Ai

Flydubai intends to bolster its Nepal operations with ongoing consideration of services to Pokhara International Airport. This initiative could greatly improve international accessibility to Kathmandu and further enhance international connectivity to Nepal’s leading adventure and cultural tourism offerings. Inaugurated in January 2023, Pokhara International Airport is currently primarily focused on domestic flights and some charter flights. The airline’s consideration of scheduled operations would provide direct services for travelers from India, the USA, China, the UK, Australia and other source markets. This news comes in the context of Nepal’s tourism industry significantly recovering, with international arrivals in Nepal exceeding 1.15 million in 2025, illustrating the need for internationally enhanced travel services to its touristic regions.

Why Flydubai’s Move Could be Great News:

Flydubai has essentially understood what the Nepalese travel market has considered a problem. Pokhara International Airport (PHH) is Nepal’s third major international airport, built to help distribute and alleviate pressure from Kathmandu International Airport, and to distribute visitor traffic to the major tourism hubs of Nepal. However, with all of the investment and infrastructure developed to support tourism, scheduled commercial flights have yet begun.

Tourism in Nepal surged to new heights after 1,158,459 international tourists arrived by air in 2025, signifying a near-full restoration of the tourism sector. This development showcases the potential demand for international flights to Nepal to access its scenic beauty.

Countries Likely to Benefit Most

Looking at Nepal’s totals for 2025, the following are countries which are most likely to benefit from newly established direct routes:

• India — 292,438 visitors, 25.2%
• United States — 112,316 visitors
• China — 95,480 visitors
• United Kingdom — 58,684 visitors
• Bangladesh — 57,545 visitors
• Australia — 49,357 visitors
• Germany — 24,763 visitors
• Thailand — 30,243 visitors

With Flydubai’s potential introduction of commercial flights from regional markets directly to Pokhara International Airport, these countries are likely to be the most responsive to the demand. Many tourists from these countries currently travel to Nepal via Kathmandu and also other transit hubs including Dubai. As such, direct flights to Pokhara would create new itineraries and new travel possibilities while reducing the overall time on trips.

Further Development of Nepal’s Tourism

Tourism plays an important part of Nepal’s economy. The Gandaki Province, which is home to Pokhara, is one of the most frequented tourist regions of Nepal. It is partially due to the direct access to some of the most sought after trekking routes covering the Annapurna areas, and offers great opportunities to tourist who enjoy active and also leisure pursuits.

Using data from the Nepal Tourism Board, there is a noticeable upward trend in tourist arrivals. March and April of 2025 reached an all-time high. These statistics depict a rise in global interest for travel to Nepal. The anticipated continued rise in tourist numbers means that public/private international transport links can be justified as being both commercially important and strategically valuable.

Possible benefits of international transport links include:

• The Reduction in Journey Times — travelers can fly directly into Pokhara, avoiding lengthy and time-consuming transfers.
• A Broader Distribution of Tourists — international visitors are encouraged to visit sites in addition to, and other than, Kathmandu,.
• The Opening of New Markets— Visitors from Europe and Oceania are typically long-distance travelers. This direct flight will not only encourage them to visit Nepal, but also return to Nepal more frequently.

The Reality of Traveling by Air

Although Pokhara International Airport has the ability to provide international flights, so far only charter services and a very small number of scheduled flights have been offered. This is a primary reason that local tourism stakeholders have been so keen to attract carriers such as FlyDubai.

What You Need to Know About Flights to Pokhara International Airport

Visits to Pokhara, Nepal will require advanced knowledge of flight access and travel updates.

• Status of flights: International flight access to Pokhara is expected to be available in 2026. Check with the airline directly to confirm flight access.
• Visa policies: Many international visitors can get visas upon arrival at Nepal’s international airports. This includes visitors from India, USA, UK, China, and Australia. Make sure to check the most recent visa policies.
• Best times to visit: The best times to visit for pleasant weather are between October to November and from March to May.
• How to reach Pokhara in the meantime: Direct flights to Pokhara are not available. International visitors must use Tribhuvan International Airport (Katmandu) or Gautam Buddha International Airport (Bhairahawa).

What Should Travelers Do

• Check flight status: Flight schedules change with demand. Confirmation is required.
• Plan flexible schedules: Flight delays and adjustments are likely. Include time buffers in travel plans.
• Get travel insurance: Delays and cancellations are covered with insurance.
• Book in peak season: Many travelers are expected. Ensure reservations are made in advance.
• Visit the Nepal Tourism Board: For up-to-date travel info and insights to tourism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I fly international flights to Pokhara International Airport?

Currently, there are no many scheduled international flights to Pokhara. Some charter and sporadic flights operate, but no scheduled international flights are available, including Flydubai.

Q2: What countries provide the most visitors to Nepal?

In the year 2025, the countries with the most international travelers to/from Nepal were India, USA, China, UK, Bangladesh, Australia, Germany, and Thailand.

Q3. Will travel to Pokhara become quicker for foreign tourists?

Yes. Without the need to land in Kathmandu first, the time spent traveling to Pokhara will be hours shorter.

Flydubai plans Pokhara International Airport flights, offering direct access for global travelers as Nepal’s tourism rebounds with growing international demand in 2025.

Author’s Observation:

The scheduled international flights that could be offered by Flydubai and other airlines shows that there have been some improvements in the the infrastructure supporting tourism in Nepal and some of the other burgeoning markets. With the current civil strife and unrest in the neighboring countries coming to an end, there have been increases in inbound travel to Nepal. In this situation, the introduction of international flights to Pokhara to support tourism should occur relatively quickly. In addition to supporting tourism, the prioritization of flights by the airlines should provide additional connectivity and support economic development for the country outside of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.