The Himalayas in Nepal. Photo: flydubai flydubai has launched a new route between Dubai and Pokhara, Nepal, becoming the first airline to operate scheduled international flights to Pokhara International Airport (PHH). The direct flights operate daily from Dubai International Airport, providing the first direct air link between Dubai and western Nepal.
Pokhara is one of the country's main tourist destinations and is considered the main gateway to the Annapurna Range and the Himalayas. The city serves as a base for travelers, climbers, and extreme sports enthusiasts, and is surrounded by some of the most impressive trekking trails and mountain views in Nepal.
flydubai plane in Pokhara, Nepal. Photo: FlydubaiFor flydubai, this is its second destination in Nepal, alongside Kathmandu. With the launch of the route, the airline's weekly flights between Dubai and Nepal increase to 35, including four daily flights to Kathmandu. Since launching operations in Kathmandu in 2009, the airline has flown more than 4.5 million passengers on the route.
Pokhara International Airport opened in January 2023 after years of construction, and was built to expand western Nepal's air connectivity and reduce congestion at the nearby old airport, which is mainly used for domestic flights.
Although the airport was originally designed for international operations, it has long failed to attract significant regular international traffic. The launch of flydubai is therefore a significant step forward for tourism in the region.
For Israeli travelers wishing to reach the Himalayas and the Annapurna Range, this is real news. Israeli travelers can choose from 10 daily flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai, making the connection convenient.
Flights from Dubai to Pokhara depart from Terminal 3 at 12:00 and arrive in Pokhara at 18:15. The return flight departs at 19:15 and arrives in Dubai at 22:00, local timE.