Pokhara Int'l Airport capable to handle large aircrafts

By Santosh Subedi,Kaski, Dec. 28: For years, the people of Pokhara have harboured a single dream: regular international flights from Pokhara International Airport, the aviation infrastructure that is waiting for international aircraft since its inauguration two years ago on January 1, 2023. 

Despite being declared Nepal’s tourism capital, the city is yet to see consistent international operations. However, there have been nine chartered flights to date.

Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara and surrounding areas have repeatedly said that the airport is fully capable of handling international flights, with no operational issues for take-off or landing. 

This claim was recently validated when Sichuan Airlines’ Airbus A319 successfully landed in Pokhara, carrying 129 passengers from Chengdu, China. The flight was part of the preparations for the Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race on December 29 and 30.

The same aircraft departed fully loaded with 126 passengers, including Gandaki Province’s Minister for Industry, Tourism, and Environment, Mitralal Basyal, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), tourism entrepreneurs, and journalists.

Dismissing rumours about challenges posed by the runway and nearby hills, Director General of CAAN, Pradeep Adhikari, confirmed the airport’s readiness for international operations. “There are no issues for aircraft operations at the PIA. Claims about difficulties for larger aircraft have been proven entirely false,” he said. 

Minister Basyal expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring regular international flights, calling it a matter of pride and hope for the people of Gandaki Province. “We are ready to facilitate and address any challenges to make regular flights a reality,” he said.

President of NATTA Gandaki, Kishor Dahal, highlighted the potential for successful commercial flights and stressed the need for establishing offices for immigration, customs, labour, education, health, and foreign affairs at the airport. 

He also pointed out Pokhara’s strategic importance as a gateway to Muktinath, Korala, and the prospective Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage route.

Former President of Pokhara Tourism Council, Pom Narayan Shrestha, said that with the multiple flights conducted in the last two years, misconceptions about the airport’s capabilities have been dispelled. 

Built by CAMC Engineering Company Limited under a loan agreement with China Exim Bank, the airport cost Rs. 22.61 billion. Sichuan Airlines has been the most frequent international operator so far in conducting flights to and from Pokhara airport. On June 21, 2023, it made its maiden flight to Pokhara from Chengdu with 84 passengers, followed by a flight on November 7 carrying 120 athletes from Kunming.