Gandaki. It is believed that the government has decided to waive various fees applicable at Pokhara International Airport and attract the airlines companies for international flights from Pokhara International Airport.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday had decided to waive parking, landing and navigation fees at the airport till mid-September 2085 targeting the international airlines companies. Similarly, the government has decided to give 50 percent discount on ground handling fees.

Pokhara metropolis mayor Dhanraj Acharya said the decision of the government will help create an atmosphere conducive for the expansion of regular flights to foreign destinations including Pokhara-Dubai and to bring in new airlines.

“It will contribute significantly to tourism promotion, expansion of air access and overall economic activities,” he said. Flydubai is launching direct flights from Pokhara to Dubai from September 23. A direct flight to Dubai, the global air transit hub, will connect Pokhara to the international air network. Regular inter-country flights have not been operated from Pokhara International Airport even after three years of its operation.

Jagannath Niraula, General Manager of Pokhara International Airport, said that Flydubai has opened ticket bookings for the Dubai-Pokhara-Dubai flight with the approval of the flight schedule. According to him, the flight will make it easier for the passengers travelling from Pokhara to Dubai to Europe, America and other destinations.

Foreign tourists can directly come to Pokhara for touring the touristic areas including Pokhara, which is also the tourism capital. Pokhara-Dubai flight service is expected to be beneficial for the general public and passengers going to other countries including Arab countries for foreign employment, study and travel.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had granted permission to Flydubai for daily flights to Dubai-Pokhara-Dubai last June. Meanwhile, Flydubai has already made its flight schedule public. Fly Dubai got the flight permission shortly after the government announced to take diplomatic initiatives to attract international airlines to Pokhara International Airport in the policy and program of the current fiscal year 2083/084.

Except for charter flights to some neighbouring countries, regular international flights have not been operated from Pokhara so far. Pokhara International Airport, built at a cost of around Rs 22 billion, is limited to domestic flights.