POKHARA: Following the government’s decision to waive various fees at Pokhara International Airport, there is growing optimism that airlines will be encouraged to operate international flights from here.

A Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday decided to provide a 100% waiver on parking, landing, and navigation fees for international airlines until mid-September 2028.

Additionally, the government decided to offer a 50% discount on ground handling charges.

Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya, expressed confidence that this decision would create a favorable environment for expanding regular flights to Pokhara–Dubai and other international destinations, as well as attracting new airlines. “This will provide a major boost to tourism promotion, the expansion of air connectivity, and overall economic activities,” he said.

Flydubai is set to launch direct flights between Pokhara and Dubai starting September 23.

Direct flights to Dubai—a global aviation transit hub—will connect Pokhara to the international air network. Despite being operational for over three years, Pokhara International Airport had not been able to secure regular cross-border flights.

General Manager of Pokhara International Airport, Jagannath Niraula, shared that Flydubai has already opened ticket bookings following the approval of the Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai flight schedule.

He noted that this flight will make travel easier for passengers heading to destinations in Europe, America, and beyond via Dubai, while also reducing travel time and costs.

Foreign tourists will now be able to fly directly to Pokhara to visit the tourism capital and surrounding regions.

The Pokhara–Dubai service is also expected to benefit migrant workers, students, and travelers heading to Arab countries and other destinations.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had granted permission to Flydubai in May for daily Dubai–Pokhara–Dubai operations.

Flydubai has since published its flight schedule. Flydubai received flight authorization shortly after the government pledged diplomatic initiatives to attract international carriers to Pokhara Airport in its policies and programs for the current fiscal year 2026/27.

To date, aside from a few charter flights to neighboring countries, no regular international flights have operated out of Pokhara.

Built at a cost of nearly Rs 22 billion through loans, Pokhara International Airport currently remains limited to domestic flights.