Sichuan Airlines plans to operate Pokhara-Australia flight via Chengdu

Kathmandu, August 28: Although the newly constructed airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa have yet to come into commercial operation, China's Sichuan Airlines is planning to fly to Australia from Pokhara via Chengdu. For this purpose, the Airline has sought permission from the regulator Nepal Civil Aviation Authority.

According to the authority's information officer, Gyanendra Bhul, Sichuan Airlines has sought permission to fly to Australia from Pokhara via Chengdu. He said that informal discussions have been held regarding the flight permission, and preparations have been made to grant permission after completing the necessary procedures.

The Airlines plans to launch the flight from September. Bilateral discussions are underway to formally conclude the process. Soon the schedule of the flight was passed by the concerned airline, said the information officer Bhul.


It is believed that this flight will make it easier for Nepalis to travel to Australia.

Earlier, Sichuan Airlines had conducted charter flights to Pokhara Airport for some time. The company wants to have regular flights to Australia as a new destination. The airline's Airbus A319 made its first flight to Pokhara on August 6, 2020.

The chartered flight was made for the purpose of bringing and taking Chinese delegates, players, spectators, as well as tourists to the 'Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival 2023' held in Phewatal on September 8 and 9.

According to the General Manager of Pokhara International Airport, Jagannath Niraula, presently only Himalaya Airlines is operating regular flights from Pokhara. Meanwhile, Bhutan's private airline company Bhutan Airlines (TASI) is also preparing to operate a chartered flight to Pokhara Airport. The information officer of the Authority said that the airline has sought permission for two or three chartered flights from Pokhara to Paro International Airport in Bhutan. According to him, Bhutan Airlines has sought permission for four days of passenger charter flights on September 28 and October.

"If the chartered flight is sustainable, it has already been decided to give 'Fifth Freedom Flight' to one country's airline from Pokhara and Bhairahawa to another country from Pokhara. Initially, Bhutan Airlines will fly Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu. The airline plans to operate Paro-Pokhara-Delhi and Delhi-Pokhara-Paro flights if the flights are regular, said Bhul, the information officer. The authority has said that Bhutan Airlines will be allowed to fly within a few days.

Currently, Himalaya Airlines is operating regular flights from Pokhara once a week to Lhasa.

People’s News Monitoring Service.