Pokhara gets its first scheduled international route as flydubai sets a September start

Pokhara International Airport opened in January 2023 and has spent most of the time since handling domestic flights and occasional charters. That is set to change on 23 September 2026, when flydubai is scheduled to begin daily service between Dubai and Pokhara, the first regular scheduled international route the airport has had.

For travellers, the practical effect is that Nepal's trekking capital becomes reachable without routing through Kathmandu. Most visitors heading for the Annapurna region currently fly into Kathmandu and then add a 25 minute domestic flight or a six to seven hour road transfer. A direct arrival removes a connection from that chain, and Dubai is a common transfer point for passengers coming from Europe, the Middle East and North America.

The Nepali government has been working to make the route attractive to carriers. Landing, parking and navigation fees for international airlines at Pokhara have been waived, and ground handling charges discounted, as an incentive for airlines to commit to the airport.

Other international services at Pokhara remain limited. Himalaya Airlines has flown to Lhasa, Sichuan Airlines has operated charters to Chengdu, and Bhutan Airlines serves Paro, but none of these has amounted to consistent daily international connectivity.

As with any newly announced route, confirm the schedule with the airline before you book connecting travel around it.