Himalaya Airlines to launch first commercial flight from PIA

KATHMANDU: After two years of operation, Pokhara International Airport (PIA) is set to welcome its first commercial flight as Himalaya Airlines announces its upcoming launch.

Starting from March 31, Himalaya Airlines will begin flights to Lhasa, China, connecting Kathmandu, Lhasa, and Pokhara with a weekly schedule.

The airline confirmed that it has already secured flight permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

According to CAAN’s Information Officer, Gyanendra Bhul, Himalaya Airlines has requested permission for its first scheduled flight to Lhasa, which is currently in the final stages of the approval process.

In addition, China’s Sichuan Airlines plans to begin commercial flights from Pokhara to Chengdu starting March 18.

Although the final approval process from CAAN is still underway, the airline intends to operate one flight per week on this route.

Sichuan Airlines’ official General Sales Agency (GSA) in Nepal is Society International.

Bhul expressed confidence that these new international flights will demonstrate the operational capability of Pokhara International Airport for regular international services.

The new air links aim to expand connectivity between Nepal’s tourist capital, Pokhara, and Lhasa, one of the world’s most renowned destinations. This development is expected to boost the arrival of Chinese tourists to Nepal.

Currently, Himalaya Airlines operates five weekly flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa and plans to add an additional route from Pokhara.

Himalaya Airlines has requested flight permission to operate weekly flights from Pokhara to Lhasa, with plans to launch operations starting March 31.

CAAN is processing the necessary permits, and the airline expects future expansions based on demand.

Sichuan Airlines has already completed test flights from Pokhara to Kathmandu, but its official flight date has not yet been set.

With direct flights to various Chinese destinations, local business owners in Pokhara are excited about the increased connectivity.

Taranath Pehari, Chair of the Pokhara Tourism Council, mentioned that the new direct flights are a significant boost to local businesses. “After two years of the airport’s opening, regular commercial flights are now taking off. This has greatly motivated the people of Pokhara,” he said.

To encourage tourism, the Pokhara Tourism Council has prepared special packages for tourists flying to Chengdu from Pokhara starting March 18.

Business-to-business (B2B) programs are also being planned, with tourism entrepreneurs from both Pokhara and Chengdu set to collaborate.

Himalaya Airlines’ Vice President expressed optimism that with the launch of the Chengdu flights, even during the slow summer season, the number of tourists is expected to rise.

The airline believes the new Kathmandu-Lhasa-Pokhara-Lhasa-Kathmandu flight route will strengthen ties between the two nations, as well as promote tourism and trade.

Pokhara International Airport, a national pride project, officially opened on Jan 1, 2023. Since then, 11 chartered flights have operated from the airport, as reported by airport spokesperson Jashodha Suvedi.

Pokhara International Airport followed the establishment of the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Lumbini, which became the country’s second international airport six months earlier, after Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, which has been in operation for 71 years.