Flight from China likely to land in Pokhara soon
Pokhara International Airport, which came into operation in January last year, is likely to land international flights for the first time this month, officials said.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a company is discussing the issue of operating chartered flights from China to Pokhara.
However, the company has not officially sought permission for chartered flights.
"At our Pokhara office, a person called Trans Himalaya (Company) asked us what facilities are there and what are the features of the airport," said Jagannath Niraula, deputy director general of the AUTHORITY.
"It is understood that preparations have been made to conduct the flight on June 21 and 22. However, no official letter has been received. ’’
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According to preliminary discussions, talks have been taken forward with two flights in two days.
According to the NRA, they are ready to approve the permission if it is officially sought.
Discussions are currently underway to fly the aircraft to Pokhara from Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, China, with the participants of the Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival to be held in Pokhara on June 23 and 24.
Airport ready
According to officials, all kinds of infrastructure are ready to operate international flights at Pokhara-based airport.
In a statement issued last year, exim bank, a loan investor of the airport, said airbus 320 and boeing 757 and other jet models could take off and land at Pokhara airport.
Flights from Pokhara to Chengdu, Kunming, Guangzhou and other Chinese cities can be operated, it said, adding that this is an important infrastructure of the 'Trans-Himalayan Multi-purpose Connectivity Network' developed by Nepal and China.
In the initial phase, only VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights could be operated from the airport.
At present, the service can also be operated through IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) method, officials said.
Preparations are being made for the first international flight.
Chief of Pokhara International Airport Bikram Raj Gautam said that although there was talk of flying on June 21, the matter of flight would not be officially finalized until the authority confirmed the approval or slot of the flight.
According to him, information has been given about the service of the airport, ground handling and other issues as demanded by the Trans Himalaya Aviation Company.
Trans Himalaya is the agent coordinating aviation chartered flights. Officials say that the company can coordinate chartered flights from any country in the world.
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The company has also been informed about some equipment installed at the airport.
"The Hon'ble Minister has officially said that he will take the flight on the 21st. I think the flight will take place on the 21st," Gautam said.
Gautam said that although the information has not been received officially based on that, they have made preparations.
What's the progress in flying to India?
Pokhara International Airport, built with a loan of more than Rs 28 billion from The Exim Bank of China, has not been able to operate international flights from Pokhara Airport even after almost six months of its operation.
Although Buddha Air is preparing to provide air service from Pokhara to some cities of India, flights have not been operated due to lack of consent from the Indian side.
Buddha started the process for international flights from Pokhara in December last year.
Buddha Air is initially planning to connect Pokhara with Benares and also fly to Delhi and Dehradun in the future.
Himalaya Air, Korean Air, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka have expressed interest in operating flights from Pokhara.
"Verbal communication, their team has been going to Pokhara (airport) when they come to Nepal. However, no formal letter has been submitted," Niraula said.
In order to attract airlines, 100 percent discount has been provided on landing, parking and navigation fees in Pokhara.
Airport Capacity
Pokhara International Airport has a capacity to handle around 600 passengers per hour.
Officials said there could be eight domestic service aircraft, including three international planes and four large small ones at a time.
With a runway of 2,500 meters, the airport is considered suitable for large aircraft to fly narrowbody aircraft such as the Airbus A320, Boeing 737-700 series or Boeing 757-200.
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