KATHMANDU: flydubai launched regular commercial flights to Pokhara International Airport on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone for the region.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, carrying 113 passengers from Dubai, landed at the airport at 6:19 p.m. The aircraft was welcomed with a water salute. It later departed for Dubai at 7:55 p.m. with 152 passengers on board.

Local residents and tourism entrepreneurs expressed enthusiasm, describing the flight as the realization of a five-decade-old dream. Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya stated that this flight represents a new beginning for Pokhara’s international connectivity. Nepal Tourism Board executive member Santosh Pokharel noted that using Dubai as a transit hub will simplify travel from various countries to Pokhara, creating new economic opportunities.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal granted flight permission to flydubai on June 8. To attract international airlines, the government has waived parking, landing, and navigation fees at the airport until mid-September 2028, with a 50 percent discount on ground handling charges. Local businesses have also introduced promotional offers, with hotels providing up to 25 percent discounts and restaurants offering 15 to 20 percent off for the first three months.

An official welcome ceremony was cancelled following the death of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a member of the UAE royal family. According to the daily schedule, the flight is set to land in Pokhara at 6:15 p.m. and depart for Dubai at 7:15 p.m. While other airlines had previously conducted charter flights, this marks the start of regular commercial service. The new route connects Pokhara to over 120 global destinations through the flydubai and Emirates codeshare partnership.