Flydubai to Launch Daily Dubai–Pokhara Flights from September 23

Kathmandu — Flydubai has announced daily direct flights between Dubai and Pokhara, marking a major step toward expanding international air connectivity from Nepal’s tourism capital.

The Dubai-based airline will begin the new service on September 23, 2026. With the launch, flydubai will become the first UAE-based carrier to operate direct flights to Pokhara International Airport.

The new route will make Pokhara flydubai’s second destination in Nepal after Kathmandu. The airline has been serving Nepal since 2009 and has carried millions of passengers between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates over the years.

The announcement is important not only for air passengers but also for Nepal’s tourism industry. Pokhara has long been one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, but its international airport has not been able to attract regular international flights at the expected pace.

A direct Dubai–Pokhara link could change that situation. Dubai is one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, connecting passengers from the Gulf, Middle East, Europe, Africa and other regions. This means travellers from several global markets will now have easier access to western Nepal without having to transit through Kathmandu.

For Pokhara, the service is expected to support tourism, trekking, adventure travel, eco-tourism and hospitality businesses. The city is the gateway to the Annapurna region and is widely known for mountain views, lakes, paragliding, trekking routes and leisure tourism.

The flight is also expected to benefit Nepali migrant workers, business travellers and families living in the UAE and other Gulf countries. Until now, many passengers travelling to western Nepal had to fly to Kathmandu first and then take a domestic flight or road journey to Pokhara.

The new service could reduce travel time and ease pressure on Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, which has long handled most of Nepal’s international air traffic.

Flydubai Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith said Nepal has remained an important market for the airline since it launched Kathmandu flights. He said the direct connection to Pokhara reflects the airline’s commitment to supporting trade and tourism between Nepal and the UAE.

The airline has said the new route will operate as part of its codeshare partnership with Emirates. Under this arrangement, passengers will be able to book smoother itineraries, use a single ticket and benefit from through check-in of baggage across the combined network.

According to the flight schedule, flight FZ1165 will depart Dubai International Airport at 12:00 noon and arrive in Pokhara at 6:15 pm local time.

The return flight, FZ1166, will depart Pokhara at 7:15 pm and arrive in Dubai at 10:00 pm local time.

Flydubai has announced that return Business Class fares from Dubai to Pokhara will start from AED 5,000, while Economy Class Lite fares will start from AED 1,900.

For passengers travelling from Pokhara to Dubai, return Business Class fares will start from NPR 190,000 and Economy Class Lite fares from NPR 91,000.

Tickets can be booked through flydubai’s website, mobile app, contact centre, travel shops and authorised travel partners.

The launch comes at a time when Pokhara International Airport has been seeking regular international operations. Although the airport was built to serve as an international gateway, its use has remained limited compared with expectations.

The interpretation is clear: this route gives Pokhara its strongest opportunity so far to establish itself as a functioning international aviation point. If the service attracts steady passenger demand, it could encourage other foreign airlines to consider Pokhara as a viable destination.

However, the long-term success of the route will depend on several factors. These include passenger load, ticket affordability, tourism promotion, coordination between Nepal’s aviation authorities and airlines, and the ability of the local tourism sector to convert better air access into higher visitor numbers.

For Nepal, the service could help decentralise international tourism away from Kathmandu. For flydubai, the route strengthens its South Asia network and deepens its presence in a market where demand for travel to the Gulf remains strong.

Overall, the Dubai–Pokhara route is more than a new flight. It is a test of whether Pokhara International Airport can move from symbolic infrastructure to regular international commercial operation.